Efficacy of low fat diet in the treatment of benign breast disease

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have shown that lipid abnormalities have a role in the pathogenesis of benign breast disease. However, few investigators have tried to reduce dietary fat to treat this disorder.

Methods: Between 1990 and 1993, we conducted a prospective cohort study to find out the efficacy of a low fat diet (less than 15% fat-derived calories) in the treatment of benign breast disease in patients who had been symptomatic for 6 months or more. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase 36 patients were alternately assigned to control and treatment groups for 6 months and in the second phase 121 patients (including all those in phase I) were given treatment (median follow up 25 months, range 3 to 39 months). Detailed lipid profiles were studied at the time of presentation and at 4 and 5 months.

Results: Phase I results showed that after 6 months none of the patients in the control group had experienced any alteration in their symptoms and signs but in the treatment group 12 out of 17 improved. In phase II improvement in pain (68 out of 97; 70%), nodularity (51 out of 79; 64%) and discharge (15 out of 19; 80%) was seen. There was a significant decline in the mean values of total cholesterol and high-density lipoproteins at the end of 5 months of treatment.

Conclusion: A low fat diet improves the symptoms as well as the lipid profile in patients with benign breast disease.