Fruit and Vegetable Intervention in Lactating Women to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Summary

Mechanistic data show that compounds in fruits and vegetables have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties that can reduce breast cancer risk. However, observational and interventional studies have provided mixed results, and a recent report by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) concludes that the data are insufficient but suggestive that non-starchy vegetables and foods containing carotenoids reduce risk. Measurement error, relatively low levels of carotenoid-rich fruit and vegetable intake in the study populations, emphasis on diet in later adulthood, and confounding factors likely contribute to the weak associations. Therefore, the investigators will conduct a randomized diet intervention trial in young women to assess the extent to which at least 8 to 10 daily servings of deeply pigmented and nutrient dense fruits and vegetables reduces biomarkers of breast cancer risk. The intervention is focused on breastfeeding women because: 1) pregnancy and lactation are normal early life course events; 2) the risk of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is increased for up to 10 years postpartum; 3) a dietary intervention to reverse the detrimental molecular changes associated with puberty and pregnancy is more likely to be successful in younger than in older women;4) a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is hypothesized to reduce the inflammation during lactation/weaning and lower PABC risk; 5) postpartum lactating women may be a highly motivated population; and 6) breastmilk provides access to the breast microenvironment and breast epithelial cells to non-invasively assess the diet intervention directly in the breast. Four hundred nursing mothers will be randomly assigned to either the intervention arm, in which they are asked to increase fruit and vegetable intake to at least 8 to 10 daily servings for one year, or to a control condition in which participants receive a dietary guideline for breastfeeding mothers. Women in the intervention arm will receive counseling and boxes of fruits and vegetables for the first 20 weeks, after which they will continue to receive counseling. Changes in DNA methylation and cytokine profiles in breastmilk will be evaluated. Maternal weight and body fat distribution, and infant growth will be monitored. These results will greatly expand our knowledge of how diet alters molecular pathways in a specific organ, ultimately contributing to both breast cancer etiology and prevention.

Conditions

• Breast Cancer Female
• Inflammation
• Postpartum Weight Retention
• Diet, Healthy
• Risk Reduction

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Dietary Counseling

The counseling approach will employ strategies shown to be successful in previous and ongoing dietary modification studies including supportive and motivational interviewing techniques. Each woman in the diet intervention group will be assigned a trained nutrition coach/counselor. Counselors will focus on helping participants identify and address barriers to achieving the goal of consuming at least 8 to 10 servings of nutrient dense fruits and vegetables each day (e.g., modifying recipes and food preparation). Participants will also receive weekly boxes of fruits and vegetables .

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kathleen Arcaro, PhD · University of Massachusetts, Amherst

• Lindiwe Sibeko, PhD · University of Massachusetts, Amherst

• Susan Sturgeon, DrPH · University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-10-24

Primary Completion

2024-04-01

Completion

2024-04-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations