POTENTIAL IMPACT OF A MEDITERRANEAN DIET-BASED NUTRITION EDUCATION WITHIN A LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION STUDY (LIBRE 1) ON FATTY ACID PROFILES IN ERYTHROCYTES

Introduction:

Women with pathogenic BRCA 1/2 mutations have a 60 – 80% lifetime risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Both incidence and prognosis might be modulated by lifestyle, physical activity and nutrition.

It has been shown that the “Mediterranean Diet” (MD) reduces the risk of cancer mortality, e.g. in breast cancer. Several meta-analyses and prospective studies indicate that a high dietary intake of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FA), combined with a low intake of n-6-FA, decreases cancer-associated pathogenic conditions. The main component of olive oil, the n-9-oleic acid, shows antioxidant and cardioprotective effects.

Objectives:

To study potential beneficial effects of the MD and physical activity in women at risk for BRCA 1-/2-associated cancer, a multicenter lifestyle intervention trial was initiated. We studied acceptance and feasibility of the multicenter trial and aim to define suitable indicators for adherence to the diet, such as analysis of erythrocyte membrane FA.

Methods:

The LIBRE project consists of two lifestyle intervention trials: a feasibility LIBRE 1 trial (n = 68), followed by the ongoing LIBRE 2 main trial (n = 600). Both include a 12 month intervention and long term follow-up.

In LIBRE 1 the participants were randomly allocated into the intervention group (IG) that received repeated nutrition education classes on MD and individualized training, and the control group (CG) that attended only one lecture about healthy diet according to the German Nutrition Society (DGE).

Compliance to the dietary intervention was assessed using the “Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener” (MEDAS), as well as a food frequency questionnaire (“EPIC-FFQ” Dife Potsdam).

Erythrocyte membrane FA composition was detected by gas chromatography at baseline, at 3 (V1) and 12 (V2) months after study start.

Results:

The IG significantly increased their MEDAS scores from 6.5 to 8.6 (V1) and 8.2 (V2) score points (p < 0.001). The CG did not show significant changes (p = 0.19).

In erythrocyte membranes, both groups showed an increase in n-9-FA (p < 0.001), a decrease in n-6-FA (p < 0.001), but no change in n-3-FA. The FA concentrations correlated with MEDAS and EPIC-FFQ items, yet not consistently.

Conclusion:

The LIBRE 1 intervention was feasible and succeeded to enhance adherence to the MD in the IG. Promising improvements in erythrocyte FA composition occurred, that indicated dietary changes. The CG seemed to benefit from DGE recommendations. LIBRE 2 is to study these effects and long term outcomes in an adequate population.

Disclosure of Interest:

None declared.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).