Metabolic syndrome generally manifests itself as weight gain located on the stomach. In the case of breast cancer, this increases the risk of mortality.
- Metabolic syndrome is associated with a higher risk of death in breast cancer.
- It corresponds to excess abdominal fat associated with abnormal blood sugar, hypercholesterolemia or hypertension.
- A change in diet can reduce the risk of mortality.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in France. Not all women are equal when it comes to illness. In the magazine Cancer from the American Cancer Society, scientists show that women with metabolic syndrome have a higher risk of death. Characterized by a high waist circumference, it is associated with at least two disorders: abnormal blood sugar, high blood pressure or even hypercholesterolemia. “The occurrence of the syndrome is favored by a lack of physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet, which means that the number of cases is constantly increasing.“, alert Inserm. In France, nearly one in five people are affected.
Metabolic syndrome: it increases the risk of death in the event of breast cancer
In this study, American researchers analyzed data from more than 60,000 women, collected as part of a clinical trial called the Women’s Health Initiative. Among them, more than 4,500 developed breast cancer during 20 years of follow-up. 659 women died from it. Scientists have paid attention to the score called MetS: it helps examine components of metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, high blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol. “A higher MetS score (3-4), regardless of weight, was associated with breast cancers with poorer prognosis, and a 44% higher risk of breast cancer mortality., conclude the authors. Obesity, as the only risk factor, was not associated with an increased risk of death. On the other hand, this was the case for severe obesity.
Breast cancer: knowing how to detect metabolic syndrome
“LPostmenopausal women with higher MetS scores constitute a previously unknown population at higher risk of breast cancer mortalitynotes lead author Rowan T. Chlebowski of the Lundquist Institute in California. Assessing MetS scores in the clinic requires only three questions about history of cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension, as well as measurements of waist circumference and blood pressure, which are typically determined during routine visits.” According to him, it could thus be easy to implement these checks during the various follow-up medical appointments.
Breast cancer: healthy diet reduces risk of death in metabolic syndrome
Better detection of metabolic syndrome would allow better management. Inserm explains that losing abdominal fat decreases the risk of complications related to the syndrome. To achieve this, she cites the process to follow: “regular physical activity and a balanced diet, sometimes supplemented by medicinal treatments, in particular to regulate blood pressure, hyperglycemia or blood lipid content..
However, in a second part of their work, American scientists showed that a change has beneficial effects in women suffering from metabolic syndrome and breast cancer. “In the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) randomized trial, a low-fat diet reduced breast cancer mortality, particularly among women with more components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) (obesity, high blood pressure, blood sugar high and abnormal cholesterol)”, note the authors. For them, screening for metabolic syndrome and its treatment constitute a “target” for breast cancer prevention strategies.
