Breast Cancer Survival Rate Linked to Veggie Consumption

Probably the first bit of health advice we as humans ever get is the eternally present ?eat your vegetables!?, and it seems that for breast cancer sufferers, the basic knowledge could improve their chances of beating the illness.

Data suggesting as much came out of a study in China, and involved the consumption of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, kale, cauliflower and broccoli. Although not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal, the research was presented at?the American Association for Cancer Research?s annual meeting yesterday.

The study of veggie consumption and breast cancer survival rates encompassed nearly 5,000 breast cancer survivors in China who had been diagnosed between 2002 and 2006. The women in the study ranged in diagnosis from Stage 1 to Stage 4, and higher amounts of cruciferous vegetables in the diets of the women studied was ultimately tied to better outcomes overall.

Sarah Nechuta was a researcher on the new study (cruciferous vegetables have been linked to better breast cancer outcomes in the past) and she explains that while researchers controlled for lifestyle and demographic factors, the impact of cruciferous vegetables in the diet seemed to track:

?Cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, turnips and broccoli, contain high amounts of glucosinolates, which are hydrolyzed to bioactive compounds including isothiocyanates (ITCs) and indoles??These bioactive compounds have many anti-cancer properties that may influence cancer development, progression and survival.?

Oregon State University nutrition professor Emily Ho explains:

?An association has also been established with [cruciferous vegetables and] colon cancer and prostate cancer? There is pretty strong evidence from studies that compounds found in cruciferous vegetables may have cancer-fighting properties.?

In the study, women in the group who consumed the most cruciferous vegetables reduced overall as well as breast cancer-specific mortality by 62%, and slashed risk of recurrence by 35%.

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