Vegetables and Fruits Show Benefits for ER-negative Breast Cancer

Eating fruits and vegetables reduced the risk of estrogen-negative breast cancer, even though it had no effect on other kinds of breast cancer, according to a study that analyzed research from 20 previous studies and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Vegetables were slightly better than fruits.

Because researchers were looking at studies that had already been done, they could not control the types and amounts of vegetables and fruits that were studied.  Some of the studies, though, have shown that five servings a day are beneficial, with no added benefit for more than that.  This includes broccoli, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables, plus apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, strawberries, carrots, and lettuce.

Researchers noted that, because of their "high protein or starch content," mature beans and potatoes were excluded. Pickled fruit and vegetables were also excluded "because they contain potentially carcinogenic nitrates and preservatives."

Data were analyzed on 24, 673 breast cancer survivors; 4821 of these were estrogen-negative.  Because not all studies included Her2 status, researchers did not specifically consider cases of TNBC, although other research shows that results from ER-negative studies often translate to TNBC cases.

Please donate to Positives About Negative to keep this site going.  This work is entirely supported by readers.  Just click on the Donate button in the right of the page.  Thank you!

Nutrition Affects Hormone Negative Disease: An Overview

In her blog, Breast Cancer Information, Kim Dalzell, a doctor of holistic nutrition and registered dietitian,  offers insight into fighting hormone ngative breast cancer. Some of the points she makes:

Women who scored high on Harvard University's Alternate Healthy Eating Index had a lower risk of estrogen receptor negative breast cancer. The guidelines for this index: a daily intake of 9 servings of fruits and veggies, 7 or more grams of dietary fiber, 30-40 percent less saturated fat than polyunsaturated fats, less than 3 grams of trans fats and consuming 1 ounce of nuts. (February 2006, Journal of Nutrition.)

Women whose diets were deficient in folate, a B vitamin, had an increased estrogen receptor negative breast cancer risk. Folate-rich foods include: fruits like cherries, oranges and strawberries, beans and peas, and dark, green leafy veggies. (August 2005, Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.)

Alcohol robs the body of folate and other B vitamins, so it's prudent to enjoy alcohol only occasionally, if at all. (August 2005, Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.)

High intakes of linoleic acid were associated with more than a 300 percent greater risk of estrogen receptor negative disease than estrogen receptor positive disease. Linoleic acids are found in polyunsaturated fats like cottonseed, soybean, and corn oil as well as vegetable-based margarines. (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center research.)

Among premenopausal women, there was a reduced risk of both estrogen receptor negative and estrogen positive breast cancer for those women who consumed the highest lignan intake. Lignans are found in flaxseed, and to a lesser degree in sesame seeds and kale. (Breast Cancer Research Treatment journal, October 2006.)