A recent study from the University of Antwerp in Belgium has revealed that breast cancer survivors have higher metabolic rates relative to muscle mass than those who have never had the disease, highlighting the need for personalized nutrition strategies to support their unique health challenges post-treatment.
This study focused on comparing the resting energy expenditure (mREE), body composition, and metabolic health between women who have survived breast cancer (BCs) and those without a history of the disease (healthy controls).
The researchers aimed to understand how breast cancer and its treatments might alter a person’s energy needs and body composition, including weight, fat mass, and fat-free mass.
They also looked into how these factors correlate with each other and whether the number of years a woman has survived after cancer or the presence of metabolic dysfunction (characterized by issues like obesity, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance) could predict energy expenditure.
While not a large sample size, the study included 32 breast cancer survivors who were within 5 years post-treatment and 36 healthy women, with the researchers measuring their mREE using a method called indirect calorimetry and assessing body composition with a technique known as BOD POD. They adjusted the mREE based on fat-free mass to account for differences in body size and composition.
Findings revealed that while the absolute mREE (total energy burned at rest) was similar between breast cancer survivors and healthy controls, the breast cancer survivors had a higher mREE when adjusted for fat-free mass.
This suggests that, relative to their muscle mass, breast cancer survivors may have a higher metabolic rate.
The study also found significant relationships between body composition and energy expenditure, especially the correlation between fat-free mass and mREE in breast cancer survivors.
The researchers proposed that the increased energy expenditure adjusted for fat-free mass in breast cancer survivors could be due to metabolic stress caused by the cancer or its treatment.
They emphasized the importance of accurately measuring energy needs and body composition to tailor nutritional strategies for breast cancer survivors, particularly those at risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
The study’s results suggest that while breast cancer and its treatment may not significantly change the overall amount of energy a survivor needs (as indicated by similar absolute mREE between survivors and controls), they do impact how this energy is expended relative to muscle mass.
This could have implications for nutritional and exercise recommendations for survivors, highlighting the need for personalized approaches to support their metabolic health and overall well-being.
