Mediterranean diet, BMI, healthy lifestyle, and social factors among a sample of Egyptian women with breast cancer

Abstract

Background/aim Mediterranean diet is one of the healthy diets as many health benefits are strongly and robustly supported by evidence from long-term observational studies and randomized trials. This study aims to assess the nutrition-related breast cancer (BC) prevention factors, knowledge, attitudes, and practice of Egyptian BC patients. Patients and methods The study included 222 Egyptian women shared as volunteers in a case–control study, with age range: 25–75 years, with breast mass confirmed by mammogram. Using breast tissue core biopsy, 83 diagnosed with malignant tumor lesion, and 54 cases were found to have benign lesion. In total, 85 healthy women (control group) selection that was matched with the patients who had free mammograms on both sides, were chosen to be a control. All women were subjected to thorough clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, diet history, lifestyle, and health attitude assessment. Results Data revealed that benign and BC patients were older (49.33±11.98, 49.49±10.89 years), while BC patients had the highest BMI (35.45±15.58 kg/m2). Data concerned with successful social relationship were good; numerical differences between other factors that concerned lifestyle were reported. Large number of patients with benign tumors and BC did not adhere to consumed healthy diet, their scores when compared with Mediterranean diet were 5.58±3.70 and 5.44±2.81 compared with 6.67±3.00 of the control. BC patients had the lowest intake of milk and dairy products, vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, and olive oil compared with the control with high significant differences (P≤0.01), while consumption of red and processed meat was significantly high, which was different from what was recorded in their belief and preference of such food. Conclusion According to the findings of this study, Egyptian BC patients who participated in this study had the lowest attitude and adherence to eat healthy diet. Data highlighted the necessity to increase the successful good social relationships and support for cancer patients.

Keywords

• anthropometry
• breast cancer
• dietary intake
• mediterranean diet
• social factors