[Nutrition patterns in German breast cancer patients].

BACKGROUND

Several studies could demonstrate an association between nutrition and the risk of breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

In this study we examined the daily diet of German patients with breast cancer approximately 12 months after diagnosis. In a prospective trial nutritional habits were evaluated in 165 breast cancer patients on admittance to an inpatient medical rehabilitation program.

RESULTS

The results of this survey show that patients with breast cancer report on a nutritional pattern which is characterised by a (very) low consumption of grains, vegetables, fruits und fish and a high consumption of meat and processed meat. Due to epidemiological data, it may be hypothesized that the patients' diet might have contributed to the development of their disease.

CONCLUSION

Our results underscore the need for nutritional counselling of breast cancer patients, as they show a relatively unfavourable nutrition pattern which differs from currently available advice. An inpatient rehabilitation programme could be an adequate starting point for this purpose.