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PubMed1981

Body composition in a rat model of moderate uremia.

To evaluate whether abnormal body composition in uremia is a consequence of undernutrition from poor food intake, body fluid compartments and individual organs were measured in moderately uremic (5/6th nephrectomy) and pair fed control rats and in a second group of moderately uremic and control rats on two levels of dietary protein: 43% (HP) and 18.5% (LP). Uremic rats in both groups had significantly increased total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) and decreased total body solids (TBS). Heart weight in uremic rats was significantly increased, whereas weight of muscle, brain, adrenal, and fat free liver, as a percent of body weight, did not differ from control rats. There were no differences between uremic rats on HP and LP diets in TBW, ECW, TBS or in heart weight and muscle weight. Uremic rats on HP had increased kidney and liver weights. These data demonstrate abnormal body composition in a rat model of moderate uremia. Changes observed appear to be primarily a consequence of uremia per se rather than of undernutrition or level of dietary protein.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[Body composition in Negro African children suffering from sickle cell disease. A mixed cross-sectional longitudinal study in Brazzaville, Congo].

This study evaluates the changes of body composition in homozygous children suffering from sickle cell disease and appreciates the interaction between some factors of severity of the disease. A mixed cross-sectional longitudinal study with control cases cohort was conducted in Brazzaville (Congo) among 91 children with sickle cell disease (45 boys and 46 girls) and 95 healthy children (48 boys and 47 girls), aged of 8-17 years old. Each group was initially divided into three subgroups of age: 8, 11, 14. These children were subsequently followed for 3 years. Each year, at the same period, body mass, percentage of body fat, lean body mass and body mass index were evaluated in the two groups and then compared. The effects of frequency of painful episodes, the number of severe anaemia crisis and haemoglobin F on different variables were also appreciated. The children with sickle cell disease had stunting, lower values of body mass (p < 0.001), percentage of fat (p < 0.01), lean body mass (p < 0.01), and body mass index (p <0.001) between 8 and 17 years of age. In addition, we observed a non linear association between body mass index and fat percentage, but this interaction was stronger in girls. Finally the yearly frequency of painful episodes, the number of severe anaemia crisis and haemoglobin F had most of the time an influence on body composition. Children with sickle cell disease had a decreased body composition influenced by the complications associated with the disease . These limitations are modulated by haemoglobin F but the body composition is affected by painful episodes and severe anaemic crisis. Therefore more care and attention are recommended for the children suffering from sickle cell disease in order to control this severe disease.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2006

Body composition is distinctly altered in Turner syndrome: relations to glucose metabolism, circulating adipokines, and endothelial adhesion molecules.

BACKGROUND: Body composition in Turner syndrome (TS) is altered with final height of TS decreased; anthropometry and bone mass distinctly changed. AIM: To describe total and regional distribution of fat and muscle mass in TS and the relation to measures of glucose metabolism, sex hormones, IGFs, and markers of inflammation and vascular function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-four women with TS (mean age, 42.5 +/- 9.7 years) and an age-matched group of controls (n = 55) were examined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans with determination of regional body composition and estimation of visceral fat and skeletal muscle mass. We determined maximal oxygen uptake and assessed physical activity using a questionnaire. We measured serum adiponectin, ghrelin, IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), estradiol, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin, glucose, cytokines, vascular cell adhesion molecule-I, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-I. Insulin sensitivity was estimated. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the relationships between variables. RESULTS: TS had lower total lean body mass (LBM), while body mass index (BMI) and total fat mass (FM) were increased. We found increased visceral FM, and decreased trunk LBM, appendicular LBM, and skeletal muscle mass. VO2max and physical activity were significantly lower in TS, as were most hormone levels, except increased leptin. In multiple linear regression models, status (i.e. TS or control) was a consistent contributing variable. CONCLUSION: Profound changes are present in body composition in TS, with increased FM, and decreased skeletal muscle mass. Circulating hormones, VO2max, and insulin sensitivity influence body composition. The accumulation of visceral fat would predict a higher risk of development of the insulin resistance syndrome.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed1995

Body composition and metabolic profiles associated with puberty in beef heifers.

Rapid growth large frame (RL, n = 61) or average growth medium frame (AM, n = 71) biotype heifers fed to achieve either moderate (MOD, .6 kg/d) or high ADG (HI, 1.0 kg/d) were used to determine whether puberty occurs at similar body composition or metabolic status. A heifer was considered pubertal after being detected in estrus and then forming a functional corpus luteum. Live animal estimates of body composition and blood samples for assessment of metabolic status were taken at 13 +/- .2 d after estrus for all heifers. Body composition and metabolic status were assessed every 56 d from 7 mo of age until puberty in a subset of 80 heifers representing all biotype-diet combinations. At puberty, 32 of these 80 heifers were slaughtered and physical and chemical composition of the empty body were determined. High-gain diet heifers were younger, heavier, taller, and more muscular (all P < .01) at puberty than MOD heifers. Slaughter measurements paralleled live animal estimates; bodies of HI and RL heifers contained more (P < .01) carcass and noncarcass components than those of MOD and AM heifers, respectively. Carcasses of RL and HI heifers were more (P < .05) muscular and fatter than AM and MOD heifers. At puberty, HI heifers had a greater (P < .01) mass of moisture, fat, and fat-free organic matter (FFOM) than MOD, whereas RL heifers had more moisture, ash, and FFOM than AM. Percentage of fat was greater (22.1 +/- 1.0 vs 1.0 vs 19.1 +/- 1.0; P < .05) and percentage of moisture was less (55.4 +/- .6 vs 58.1 +/- .6; P < .01) in bodies of HI than in those of MOD heifers. Concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and insulin were greater (P < .05) in HI than in MOD heifers. Diet did not influence concentration of IGF-I or glucose, and metabolic markers were unaffected by biotype. No dramatic changes in body composition or metabolic signals were detected before puberty. Puberty did not occur at similar body composition or metabolic status in all heifers.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Differences in body composition of black and white girls.

Adults have racial differences in body composition that may modulate risks resulting from obesity. Although black and white children have been shown previously to have differences in bone mineral density and subcutaneous body fat, differences in visceral adipose tissue have not been evaluated. We studied 20 black and 20 white normal-weight girls aged 7-10 y, who were matched for weight, body mass index (BMI), bone age, chronological age, Tanner breast stage, and socioeconomic status. Each underwent anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for determination of total (TAT), visceral (VAT), and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue. Serum lipids and fasting and 2-h oral-glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) glucose and insulin concentrations were also measured. There were no differences between groups in absolute waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio, but waist-to-thigh ratio was smaller in black than in white girls. Black girls had greater bone mineral density and less TAT, VAT, and SAT than whites. VAT was not significantly correlated with any measure of insulin, or with serum lipids. However, both basal and 2-h OGTT serum insulin were significantly correlated with SAT as assessed by MRI in black girls (r2 = 0.46 for basal insulin, P = 0.001: r2 = 0.31 for 2-h insulin, P = 0.01) but not in white girls (r2 < 0.05, for basal and 2-h insulin, NS). We conclude that there are significant racial differences in body composition and differences in the strength of association between abdominal adipose tissue depots and insulin sensitivity in black and white girls.

Abdomen↗

PubMed1997

Energy expenditure, body composition, and disease risk in children and adolescents.

Recent methodological advances have led to a tremendous improvement in our ability to measure energy expenditure, body composition and fat distribution in children. The availability of new and improved measurement techniques has greatly enhanced the scope of research studies in children. The key findings from the present review are as follows: total energy expenditure in young children is approximately 25% lower than current recommendations for energy intake and revised recommendations are necessary; reduced energy expenditure, however, does not necessarily explain the greater prevalence of obesity in the population as a whole or in sub-groups at greater risk of obesity; qualitative aspects of physical activity (e.g. time, intensity) may be more important than the energy expenditure of physical activity in the regulation of body composition; for body composition assessment, DXA is emerging as a technique which can substantially improve the accuracy and standardization in children; body fat begins to accumulate in the obese; waist:hip ratio or waist circumference are inadequate markers of intra-abdominal adipose tissue in children and adolescents; finally, the early accumulation of fat in the intra-abdominal region is significantly related to the development of adverse health effects, including dyslipidaemia and glucose intolerance.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1996

Lipoprotein profile, diet and body composition in athletes practicing mixed an anaerobic activities.

OBJECTIVE: To compare lipoprotein profile, body composition and diet in a sample of athletes practicing mixed and anaerobic sports activities, and in a group of sedentary controls. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Cross selectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty professional soccer players (mixed trained), twenty body builders (anaerobic trained) and twenty sedentary subjects, all males and matched for age were studied. RESULTS: No significant differences in total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, apolipoprotein A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III, and E levels were found when the three groups were compared. Bioelectrical impendance analysis disclosed significantly lower body fat percentages in both groups of athletes, and increased fat free mass only in body builders. Daily calorie intake was higher, and alcohol intake was lower in the athletes, compared with controls. Body builders had lower carbohydrate, and higher protein and cholesterol intakes, while soccer players had a lower polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio. None of the apolipoproteins examined was correlated with any body composition of diet parameters. No correlations between lipid parameters and anthropometric or dietary variables were found by multivariate analysis when the subjects were considered as a whole. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that in healthy lean normolipemic males, the lipoprotein profile is not modified by mixed or anaerobic sport activities and the respective modifications in body composition and diet.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Body composition and other physical parameters as determinants of age at sexual maturity and performance efficiency in dwarf hens divergently selected for body weight.

Hens in this study were produced from random breeding within lines (high, low, and control) of dwarf White Leghorns that had been divergently selected for four generations for 20-week body weight. Birds were weighed at 10 weeks of age and placed in individual cages at 18 weeks of age. Body weights, shank lengths, and egg weights were obtained at sexual maturity (day of first egg) and at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after sexual maturity. Egg production was recorded during 28-day periods. Thirty hens/line were sampled at sexual maturity and at the above times after sexual maturity for body composition (percent fat, protein, moisture, and ash). High line hens showed increased percent body fat and reduced percent protein and moisture compared to low and control hens. Coefficients of determination (R2) for age at sexual maturity and body weight were small (R2 less than or equal to .20) for high and control hens. There were no meaningful relationships between body weight or other physical measurements and sexual maturity in low hens. There were no significant relationships between body composition and age at sexual maturity in high and control hens. There was a strong cubic association (R2 = .73; P less than .001) between percent ash and age at sexual maturity in low hens, although the biological importance of this relationship was uncertain. Coefficients of determination between body weight and performance efficiency (egg mass per body weight) were small to moderate (R2 = .04 to .46) for high and control hens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗

PubMed2005

Relationship between serum leptin levels and body composition and markers of malnutrition in nondiabetic patients on peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Leptin is a protein hormone secreted by adipocytes, regulating body fat and food intake. It has been reported that serum leptin levels are high in patients with chronic renal failure, and this fact has been associated with malnutrition and body composition changes in patients on hemodialysis. This present study investigated the relationship between plasma leptin concentrations and body composition and markers of malnutrition in nondiabetic patients diagnosed with end-stage chronic renal failure, treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or hemodialysis (HD). METHODS: A total of 152 HD and 32 CAPD patients were enrolled into the study. The body compositions of the patients were established by utilizing a Body Composition Analyzer. Triceps skinfold thickness (TSFT) was measured by using a Harpenden Skinfold Caliper. Serum leptin level was detected by radioimmunoassay in ng/mL through employing a DPC Gambyt-CR gamma counter. Standard laboratory methods were used for measuring the remaining parameters (total protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, hemoglobin, hematocrit, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP]). RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the HD and CAPD groups regarding leptin levels. Leptin levels of female patients in both groups were markedly higher when compared with those of men (p = 0.001). Plasma leptin levels in total, as well as for both male and female HD and CAPD patients, significantly correlated positively with age, percent fat, fat mass, body mass index and TSFT (p = 0.001). Serum leptin levels were not found to be correlated with length of time on dialysis, lean body mass, total body water, hsCRP, total protein and albumin levels (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The data obtained in this study indicated that serum leptin levels could be instrumental markers in establishing body fat ratio, as well as in determining metabolic and nutritional factors in patients with chronic renal failure.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

The relationship between body composition and physical performance in older women.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between age-associated change in body composition and physical disability is still unknown. Skeletal muscle mass declines with age in both sexes; however, since women have less muscle mass per unit of weight than men, these changes may be more debilitating in women. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between body composition and physical performance. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 144 women aged 68 to 75 were selected randomly from the general population of Verona. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition was evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioimpedance. Physical performance was evaluated using a modified version of the Activities of Daily Living scale. Distance walked in 6 minutes was calculated, and isometric knee strength was tested. RESULTS: Normal women had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat. These women also had a higher ratio of body cell mass (BCM) and total fat free mass (FFM) than women with physical impairments. After adjusting for BMI, women in the lowest tertile of muscle strength had significantly lower BCM than those in the highest tertile. CONCLUSIONS: These cross-sectional data show that although muscle strength is related to fat-free mass, disability in older women is associated with heavier BMI and with a higher percentage of body fat.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2005

Androgens and body composition in the aging male.

The relevant age-related changes in male body composition are mainly related to the progressive decrease in the level of circulating anabolic hormones, among which testosterone (T) is rather important. Its decline, between the ages of 35 and 75, is associated to a loss of muscle mass and fibers number, a doubling of fat mass and a decrease in bone mineral density by 0.3% per yr after age 35; thus the relationship between age-related changes in body composition and T bioactivity reflects an important endocrine aspect of the aging male. The assessment of human body composition and in particular the evaluation of fat tissue and its distribution, is currently standardized by the use of dual-energy x-ray absorpiometry (DXA). In the present paper we review the mechanisms through which testosterone may inhibit adipogenesis, restore the myogenic programme enhancing the protein turnover at muscle level and maintain bone mineral density in elderly men.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2004

Habitual physical activity and physical activity intensity: their relation to body composition in 5.0-10.5-y-old children.

BACKGROUND: Concerns of a decrease in physical activity levels (PALs) of children and a concurrent increase in childhood obesity exist worldwide. The exact relation between these two parameters however has as yet to be fully defined in children. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relation in 47 children, aged 5-10.5 y (mean age 8.4+/-0.9 y) between habitual physical activity, minutes spent in moderate, vigorous and hard intensity activity and body composition parameters. DESIGN: Total energy expenditure (TEE) was calculated using the doubly labelled water technique and basal metabolic rate (BMR) was predicted from Schofield's equations. PAL was determined by PAL=TEE/BMR. Time spent in moderate, vigorous and hard intensity activity was determined by accelerometry, using the Tritrac-R3D. Body fatness and body mass index (BMI) were used as the two measures of body composition. RESULTS: Body fat and BMI were significantly inversely correlated with PAL (r=-0.43, P=0.002 and r=-0.45, P=0.001). Times spent in vigorous activity and hard activity were significantly correlated to percentage body fat (r=-0.44, P=0.004 and r=-0.39, P=0.014), but not BMI. Children who were in the top tertiles for both vigorous activity and hard activity had significantly lower body fat percentages than those in the middle and lowest tertiles. Moderate intensity activity was not correlated with measures of body composition. CONCLUSIONS: As well as showing a significant relation between PAL and body composition, these data intimate that there may be a threshold of intensity of physical activity that is influential on body fatness. In light of world trends showing increasing childhood obesity, this study supports the need to further investigate the importance of physical activity for children.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2006

Leptin levels and body composition in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between serum leptin levels and body composition and to evaluate the variables related to disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. We studied 49 diabetic patients aged 6-16 years (age: 11.2+/-2.9 years, M/F: 26/23), and 37 healthy controls. Body composition was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum leptin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), free thyroxin, thyrotropin, testosterone and estradiol levels were measured in patients and controls. We did not observe significant difference in serum leptin levels between patients and controls. Girls had significantly higher serum leptin levels than boys in both patient and control groups. Serum leptin levels did not correlate significantly with HbA1c, disease duration or daily insulin dose but, correlated positively with body mass index (BMI) and fat mass (FM) in patients as in controls. Body composition in diabetic girls and boys was similar with respective controls. When analyzed by pubertal stage, BMI, lean body mass (LBM), FM, and total bone mineral density (BMD) were significantly higher in pubertal girls with type 1 diabetes compared to prepubertal ones. In pubertal boys with type 1 diabetes, LBM and FM were significantly higher than prepubertal ones. The results of the present study showed that neither serum leptin levels nor body composition was significantly altered in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes managed with intensive insulin therapy.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1998

Partitioned weight loss and body composition changes during a mountaineering expedition: a field study.

Weight loss and changes in body composition are recognized phenomena associated with high-altitude mountaineering expeditions. Attempts to partition the weight loss between fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) have been inconclusive. Therefore, five male subjects, average age 40.0 +/- 5.5 years, were studied prior to, during, and following a 21-day expedition between 2200 m and 4300 m on Mt. McKinley, Alaska. Pre- to postexpedition body composition changes were determined by densitometry, skinfold thickness (12 sites), body girth measurements (14 sites), and cross-sectional area from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (three sites). Data analysis by Student's t-test (p < 0.05(1) tail) indicated decreases in body weight (4.2 +/- 2.8 kg, 220 g/day, 5.4% of initial weight), total skinfold thickness (10.8%), total body girth (2.8%), and percentage of fat by densitometry (15%). Total cross-sectional area of the three MRI slices (upper arm + thigh + calf) decreased 4.7%, muscle area decreased 9.1%, and fat area decreased 3.9%. The three methods used to partition the weight loss between FM and FFM did not agree: 77% FM vs 23% FFM by densitometry, 25% FM vs 75% FFM by skinfolds, and 38% FM vs 62% FFM by MRI. Energy intake (3640 +/- 1250 kcal/day) was negatively correlated (Pearson r > 0.88(2) tail) with losses in weight (r = -0.89), skinfolds (r = -0.93), and girths (r = -0.88), ie the greater the intake the less the decline. Therefore, insufficient energy intake appeared primarily responsible for the weight loss and changes in body composition during the expedition.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1993

[Relationship of body-composition types to physical fitness performance for college women].

The purpose of this study was twofold, 1) to classify the body composition of college women into certain types by combining percent body fat, and lean body mass per unit of height and 2) to clarify the characteristics of physical fitness performance in each group, because we have as yet no reports on physical fitness in such a way. The subjects were 205 college women (average age 19.1) in Morioka, Iwate, Japan, and we collected data on body forms and physical fitness performance of subjects in 1989 and 1990. We calculated body density by the SUZUKI-NAGAMINE skinfold thickness method for Japanese, and also % FAT by the BROZEK formula. In order to check significant differences of mean values for each type, we employed the t-test, and a statistically significant level of 0.05. The findings were as follows: 1. We classified the body composition of college women into 9 types: Aa, Ab, Ac, Ba, Bb, Bc, Ca, Cb, Cc by combination of % FAT and unit LBM. Type Aa has much more % FAT and unit LBM, while type Cc has much less % FAT and unit LBM. We observed that each type has a particular body form; for example, type Aa students generally have average height but are heavier, whereas type Cc students are usually shorter and lighter. 2. Type Ba showed the best physical fitness performance of the 9 types. This type has a body composition of average % FAT and much more unit LBM. Type Ab, with much more % FAT and average unit LBM followed type Ba.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the body composition by anthropometry and bioelectric impedance in a group of elderly patients recovering from cerebrovascular accidents].

Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance and anthropometry in 25 subjects, 13 men and 12 women aged 68 +/- 9 with approximately 1 year of recovering from stroke. Most of them with a high independence in their diary activities. The main purpose of this study is to know the body composition of elderly patients with this pathology and how affects the two compartments, fat mass and fat free mass when they are measured by two different techniques anthropometry and BIA. Body Mass Index was higher in women than in men and correlation coefficient (r = 0.6) with body fat per cent was similar with both methods: BIA and anthropometry. The body fat per cent values obtained by BIA showed the same trend to be lower for men than for women and in general were higher than the anthropometric values; the high correlation between the body fat per cent by anthropometry and by BIA support this tendency (r = 0.748, p < 0.01). The comparative studies of ours results in elderly subjects recovered from stroke and the literature data in healthy elderly subjects suggests that this pathology do not lean to important changes in body composition. However, further research is necessary to confirm these results.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Assessing body composition before and after resistance or endurance training.

This study's purpose was to determine the validity of near-infrared interactance (NIR) and bioelectric impedance (BIA) in tracking changes in body composition over 12 wk of either a high intensity endurance (ET) or resistance (RT) training program in nondieting weight-stable untrained males. Prior to and following the control or training period, each subject completed a series of body composition analyses including hydrostatic weighing (HW) with a measurement of residual volume: anthropometric measurements including height, weight, skinfold, and girth: BIA measurement: and NIR measurements. Based on the HW results, there were no significant body composition changes in the control group. For the ET group, a significant decline in relative body fat resulted from a reduction in fat weight (FW) with no change in fat-free weight (FFW). In the RT group, both a significant decline in FW and an increase in FFW contributed to this group's decline in relative body fat. Tracking changes in relative body fat, FW, and FFW, skinfolds agree reasonably well with HW in all groups while BIA and NIR did not always track body composition changes well. For example, SF and BIA were significantly correlated with the changes in FFW (HW = +4.1%, SF = +4.5%. BIA = +3.1%. NIR = -0.7%) observed in the RT group compared to HW (SF: r-value = 0.45, SEE = 2.5; BIA: r = 0.33, SEE = 3.4) while the NIR measurements were nonsignificant (r = 0.09, SEE = 5.0). Interestingly, NIR underestimated the gain in FFW in the resistance trained group while BIA underestimated the changes in relative body fat. FW, and FFW in the endurance trained group. Based on these results, BIA and NIR appear not to be appropriate measurement tools for tracking body composition changes in endurance and resistance training individuals respectively.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Longitudinal changes in body weight and body composition among women previously treated for breast cancer consuming a high-vegetable, fruit and fiber, low-fat diet.

BACKGROUND: Excess adiposity has been shown to be associated with increased risk for breast cancer recurrence, and a plant-based eating pattern has been hypothesized to be protective. Whether a plant-based diet without specific energy goals will result in weight loss or changes in body composition in women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer has not been fully explored. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was conducted to identify changes in body weight, anthropometric measures, and body composition over a four year period in a sub-sample of breast cancer survivors participating in a dietary intervention targeting increased intake of vegetables, fruit and fiber and decreased dietary fat intake. METHODS: This randomized, controlled dietary intervention study compared longitudinal changes in intakes, body weight, waist:hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI) and body composition by treatment group among fifty-two women previously treated for Stage I, II, or IIIA breast cancer from the Arizona site of the Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study. The dietary intervention aimed for eight servings of fruit and vegetables, 30 g fiber, < or = 20% total energy from fat per day, as well as daily intake of vegetable juice. The comparison group was advised to follow general dietary guidelines for cancer prevention. RESULTS: The dietary intervention resulted in a significant and sustained increase in fiber, fruit, vegetable, and vegetable juice consumption (p < 0.05) among intervention group subjects as compared to comparison group subjects. The first 6 months resulted in a reduction in body weight and body fat among the intervention group subjects while the comparison group subjects remained stable. Subsequent measurements, at 12, 24 or 36, and 48 months, showed no significant differences in mean body weight, BMI, WHR, or body composition by study group. Also, no significant changes in these measures were demonstrated for either study group between baseline and 48 months. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary intervention efforts resulted in significant changes in diet toward an increase in plant foods and a decrease in dietary fat. Changes in weight, WHR, BMI, and body composition were not different over time or by study group assignment. Interventions that promote a plant-based diet without specific energy restriction do not appear to promote changes in body weight or body composition in women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. To adequately examine the role of energy restriction in reducing obesity-associated breast cancer recurrence, future interventions should include prescribed energy imbalance either through reduced intake and/or increased expenditure.

Adolescent↗