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Listen to this siteFriday 22 July 2005
This research project aims to investigate phytoestrogen intake and systemic exposure to phytoestrogens in a group of post-menopausal women previously diagnosed with breast cancer.
Study Duration : July 2005 to December 2006
Contractor : Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Trust
There is a lack of detailed exposure studies of specific sub-groups in the UK who may take in relatively large amounts of phytoestrogens due to their dietary preference or ethnic origin. Recent studies suggest that breast cancer patients are particularly likely to increase their phytoestrogen intake, either because they wish to avoid using hormone replacement therapy or because they believe phytoestrogens may help avoid a recurrence of the disease.
A total of 300 post-menopausal women currently participating in the Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (UK) will be included in the project. As part of this study, the women have completed 4-day food diaries and these will be used to estimate intake of specific phytoestrogens. Additional intakes from supplements will be determined by laboratory analysis of the supplements. Systemic exposure to phytoestrogens will also be assessed in a sub-group of women by means of a 24-hour urine collection.
The researchers plan to determine the specific food groups (including beverages) and supplements that provide the greatest source of phytoestrogens among these women.
Treatment with anti-oestrogenic drugs, such as tamoxifen, and the oestrogen receptor status of the women will also be determined, and compared with levels of phytoestrogen intake.
Furthermore, a sub-group of women will be interviewed using a specially designed questionnaire to investigate the influence of breast cancer diagnosis on the women's decision to consume or avoid phytoestrogens.
This study has developed a more complete dietary analysis database for determining the intake of phytoestrogens. This database should be a valuable resource for future studies on phytoestrogen exposure.
There was considerable variation in phytoestrogen intake between the 316 women’s diaries analysed, reflecting individual food preferences, limitations of the dietary analysis database, and variations in the women’s existing knowledge combined with a lack of routine access to dietary information. This variation was also seen in the urine analysis, which confirmed the validity of the food diary as a tool for measuring phytoestrogen intake.
The study identified a gap in the routine availability of evidence-based dietary information for breast cancer patients. For most women having breast cancer had not changed their diet. In part, this was because they had received limited or no advice at the point of diagnosis on a possible connection between diet or nutrition and cancer. As a result of this lack of information they relied upon their own understanding of healthy food and common sense, with other factors such as needs of family members and cooking on a budget having a stronger influence than cancer diagnosis.
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