Scientists talked about the impact of nutrition on heart health after cancer
People who have had cancer may face an increased risk of heart problems even after completing treatment. A new study has shown that several healthy eating patterns are associated with more favorable cardiovascular indicators in such people. At the same time, scientists have not identified a single diet that would suit everyone. About which eating habits can support heart health after cancer, see the Izvestia article.
Cardiovascular risks after cancer
With the improvement of cancer diagnosis and treatment, the number of people who live after the disease is growing. However, they remain at risk of other chronic disorders, including diseases of the cardiovascular system. According to the authors of the study, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death among people who have had cancer, if you do not take into account repeated death from cancer.
The researchers studied the data of more than 8,700 participants who had previously been diagnosed with cancer, but had no cardiovascular diseases at the time of the start of follow-up. The participants' health status was monitored for about 12 years. During this time, cardiovascular events were registered in 1,116 people.
The results of the study are published in the journal JACC: Advances. The authors assessed how different eating patterns are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease and life expectancy after cancer.
What diets have scientists studied?
The researchers compared six healthy diet options: the Mediterranean diet, MIND, DASH, the alternative healthy nutrition index AHEI-2010, the plant-based nutrition model and the inflammatory potential index of the E-DII diet. All of them, except for a healthy low-fat diet, showed an association with a lower risk of cardiovascular events.
Six Eating patterns: Which Diets involve dieting
At the same time, different eating patterns were associated with different health indicators. Higher adherence to AHEI-2010 was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. The DASH diet has been linked to a reduced risk of heart failure. The MIND model showed the lowest risk of death from all causes and the most noticeable association with an increase in life expectancy.
The authors also assessed the difference in life expectancy between participants with high and low adherence to a healthy diet. Depending on the chosen diet model, it ranged from 1.66 to 3.32 years.
There is no one ideal diet.
The results do not indicate that after cancer it is necessary to adhere to any one strictly defined diet. On the contrary, favorable associations with cardiovascular health were found for several dietary patterns based on different principles. This may make it possible to take into account the individual needs and preferences of people who have had cancer.
Yang-Xin Chen, senior author of the study
Our results show that the benefits of nutrition for the cardiovascular system of people with cancer are not limited to one "ideal" diet. It is observed in several dietary patterns, the effectiveness of which is confirmed by scientific data. This suggests a flexible approach rather than prescribing a single diet.
What the study showed
The authors emphasize that the study revealed statistical links between eating habits and health status, but does not prove that it was the diet that caused the risk reduction. Observational work makes it possible to detect patterns in large groups of people, but other circumstances can also influence the results, such as physical activity, general health, and social factors.
Nevertheless, the findings indicate the importance of attention to cardiovascular health after cancer. Scientists believe that nutrition assessment can become part of the long-term follow-up of such patients and help identify additional prevention options.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
