DASH Diet Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Breast Cancer Survivors

A recent publication in JNCI Cancer Spectrum, issued by Oxford University Press, reveals that adhering to a DASH diet diminishes the likelihood of cardiovascular disease among breast cancer survivors.

Cardiovascular disease stands as the foremost cause of non-breast cancer-related mortality among women diagnosed with breast cancer. The United States is home to over 3.8 million female breast cancer survivors, a demographic notably predisposed to cardiovascular disease compared to women without such a medical history. This susceptibility is likely attributable to the cardiotoxic repercussions of breast cancer treatment, compounded by shared risk factors common to both breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, such as advancing age, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking. Dietary counsel for breast cancer survivors has traditionally been scant and, until recently, predominantly derived from cancer prevention studies.

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The investigation drew upon data from the Pathways Study, a longitudinal cohort inquiry of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, to probe the correlations between dietary quality and cardiovascular events. The cohort comprised 3,415 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 2005 and 2013, monitored through 2021.

To gauge dietary quality, researchers employed a scoring methodology predicated on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, formulated in the 1990s for hypertension management. This regimen underscores the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy, while moderating intake of sodium, red and processed meats, and sugary beverages. The DASH diet aligns closely with recommendations from the American Cancer Society, albeit with a stronger emphasis on low-fat dairy and nuts, and a discouragement of excessive sodium intake. The study scrutinized the cardiovascular health implications of the DASH diet alongside a plant-based regimen, the 2020 Healthy Eating Index, and the alternate Mediterranean diet.

The researchers determined that women whose dietary patterns closely mirrored the DASH diet at the time of breast cancer diagnosis exhibited a 47% lower risk of heart failure, a 23% lower risk of arrhythmia, a 23% lower risk of cardiac arrest, a 21% lower risk of valvular heart disease, and a 25% lower risk of venous thromboembolic disease compared to those whose diets were least aligned with the DASH principles. Upon closer examination, the researchers observed that increased consumption of low-fat dairy was associated with reduced cardiovascular disease-related mortality, even after accounting for other food groups. Furthermore, the relationship between adherence to the DASH diet and cardiovascular disease risk seemed to be influenced by the type of chemotherapy administered. Notably, women treated with anthracyclines who adhered closely to the DASH diet exhibited a lower cardiovascular disease risk compared to those least aligned with the regimen—a correlation not observed among women undergoing other chemotherapy protocols.

“Our findings suggest that we need to begin talking to breast cancer survivors about the potential heart benefits of the DASH diet. We know that breast cancer survivors have an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, and the diet might be able to help improve the overall health of this population.”- Isaac J. Ergas, PhD, paper’s lead author, staff scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research

For more information: Diet quality and cardiovascular disease risk among breast cancer survivors in the Pathways Study, JNCI Cancer Spectrum, https://doi.org/10.1093/jncics/pkae013