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- Ahlin, Rebecca, 1989, et al.
(author)
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Development and validation of a mobile phone application developed for measuring dietary fiber intake
- 2021
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In: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643 .- 2072-6643. ; 13:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have developed a mobile phone application for measuring the intake of dietary fiber and validated the ability of the application to accurately capture this intake against measurements registered by a dietary record. We also investigated what food groups contributed most to the total, soluble, and insoluble dietary fiber intake. Twenty-six randomly selected Swedish women aged 35–85 years were included and randomized to either start to register dietary intake in the application or by a dietary record, during three consecutive days. After a washout period of at least two weeks, the participants used the other method. We found that the difference in measured mean fiber intake between the dietary record and the application was two grams independent of the total intake per day. A statistically significant correlation between fiber intake as measured by the two methods was found (rho = 0.65, p < 0.001). Vegetables and roots were the predominantly contributing foods to total and soluble fiber intake. Bread and crackers contributed most to insoluble fiber intake. In conclusion, the application may be considered as a useful and easy-to-use method to measure dietary fiber intake.
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| 3. |
- Ahlin, Rebecca, 1989, et al.
(author)
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Effects on Serum Hormone Concentrations after a Dietary Phytoestrogen Intervention in Patients with Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- 2023
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In: Nutrients. - : MDPI. - 2072-6643 .- 2072-6643. ; 15:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Phytoestrogens have been suggested to have an anti-proliferative role in prostate cancer, potentially by acting through estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and modulating several hormones. We primarily aimed to investigate the effect of a phytoestrogen intervention on hormone concentrations in blood depending on the ERβ genotype. Patients with low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, scheduled for radical prostatectomy, were randomized to an intervention group provided with soybeans and flaxseeds (∼200 mg phytoestrogens/d) added to their diet until their surgery, or a control group that was not provided with any food items. Both groups received official dietary recommendations. Blood samples were collected at baseline and endpoint and blood concentrations of different hormones and phytoestrogens were analyzed. The phytoestrogen-rich diet did not affect serum concentrations of testosterone, insulin-like growth factor 1, or sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). However, we found a trend of decreased risk of increased serum concentration of estradiol in the intervention group compared to the control group but only in a specific genotype of ERβ (p = 0.058). In conclusion, a high daily intake of phytoestrogen-rich foods has no major effect on hormone concentrations but may lower the concentration of estradiol in patients with prostate cancer with a specific genetic upset of ERβ.
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| 4. |
- Ahlin, Rebecca, 1989, et al.
(author)
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The effect of a phytoestrogen intervention and impact of genetic factors on tumor proliferation markers among Swedish patients with prostate cancer : study protocol for the randomized controlled PRODICA trial
- 2022
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In: Trials. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1745-6215. ; 23:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: A high intake of phytoestrogens, found in soy, rye, and seeds, is associated with a reduced risk of a prostate cancer diagnosis. Previously, we found that the overall decreased risk of prostate cancer diagnosis in males with a high intake of phytoestrogens was strongly modified by a nucleotide sequence variant in the estrogen receptor-beta (ERβ) gene. However, we do not know if phytoestrogens can inhibit the growth of prostate cancer in males with established diseases. If there is an inhibition or a delay, there is reason to believe that different variants of the ERβ gene will modify the effect. Therefore, we designed an intervention study to investigate the effect of the addition of foods high in phytoestrogens and their interaction with the ERβ genotype on prostate tumor proliferation in patients with prostate cancer.Method: The PRODICA trial is a randomized ongoing intervention study in patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer with a Gleason score < 8, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < 20, and scheduled for radical prostatectomy. The study is conducted at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. The intervention consists of a daily intake of soybeans and flaxseeds (~ 200 mg of phytoestrogens) until the surgery, approximately 6 weeks. The aim is to recruit 200 participants. The primary outcome is the difference in the proliferation marker Ki-67 between the intervention and the control groups. The genotype of ERβ will be investigated as an effect-modifying factor. Secondary outcomes include, e.g., concentrations of PSA and steroid hormones in the blood.Discussion: The results of the PRODICA trial will contribute important information on the relevance of increasing the intake of phytoestrogens in patients with prostate cancer who want to make dietary changes to improve the prognosis of their cancer. If genetic factors turn out to influence the effect of the intervention diet, dietary advice can be given to patients who most likely benefit from it. Dietary interventions are cost-effective, non-invasive, and result in few mild side effects. Lastly, the project will provide basic pathophysiological insights which could be relevant to the development of treatment strategies for patients with prostate cancer.Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02759380. Registered on 3 May 2016.
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| 5. |
- Ahlin, Rebecca, 1989
(author)
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The role of plant-food components in pelvic-organ cancer survivors - From feasibility to effects in randomized controlled dietary interventions
- 2023
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: The number of people who are surviving cancer is steadily growing. Dietary components have a potential role in preventing the side effects of treatment for pelvic-organ cancer, as well as tumor recurrence in survivors. However, the evidence for such specific dietary advice is currently lacking. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to strengthen the evidence for the effects of dietary components in pelvic-organ cancer survivors. Since compliance is one of the challenges in dietary interventions, digital tools could provide an effective method of measuring compliance. However, new methods need to be validated against a more established method to assess their precision in correctly measuring dietary intake. Aim: The aim of this thesis was to test the feasibility of a dietary fiber intervention prior to conducting a large randomized controlled trial in patients with pelvic organ cancer. Secondly, to investigate the effect of a diet high in phytoestrogens on tumor proliferation and if the effect differs between men with different genotypes of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in a large randomized controlled trial in patients with prostate cancer. Lastly, to develop and evaluate a new digital dietary assessment method for measuring dietary fiber intake. Methods: A dietary fiber intervention, using a fiber supplement and a moderate fiber intake from the regular diet, was tested in a feasibility study in patients with gynecological cancer (n = 57, Paper I). A study-specific food frequency questionnaire and a digital application were used, and blood and fecal samples were collected. The effects of a phytoestrogen intervention, using soybeans and flaxseeds, were tested in a randomized trial with patients with prostate cancer (n = 140, Papers II–IV). Tumor proliferation was measured as a Ki-67 index in tumor specimens, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and hormone concentrations were measured in the blood. A randomized crossover trial was used to validate the digital application against a 3-day dietary record to measure dietary fiber intake in a randomly selected female population (n = 26, Paper V). Results: In the Feasibility study, expected burden of the study or acute side effects of radiotherapy were the most common reasons for declining participation or dropping out (Paper I). The participation rate was highest for blood sampling and lowest for fecal sampling. The phytoestrogen intervention decreased the risk of a higher Ki-67 index, and the effect was most pronounced among men with a specific genotype of ERβ (Paper III). An opposite effect was seen on comparing the groups of ERβ genotypes where the phytoestrogen diet increased or decreased the risk of increased total PSA concentration. The phytoestrogen intervention did not affect blood concentrations of hormones except for decreased risk of increased estradiol concentration in one of the ERβ genotype groups (Paper IV). In the Dietary validation study, a ~2 g difference in measured fiber intake was found between the dietary record and the digital application (Paper V). Conclusions: Dietary interventions with dietary fiber supplements and phytoestrogen-rich foods are feasible in patients with pelvic-organ cancer and digital tools can be used for the assessment of dietary fiber intake. The design of interventions needs to be carefully adapted to the targeted group to be feasible. The effects of the plant-food components need further investigation. The results of this thesis can be useful for both clinicians and researchers.
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| 6. |
- Bull, Cecilia, 1977, et al.
(author)
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Role of dietary fiber in safeguarding intestinal health after pelvic radiotherapy
- 2021
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In: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1751-4258. ; 15:3, s. 180-187
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose of review Damage to healthy bowel tissue during pelvic radiotherapy can produce devastating and life-long changes in bowel function. The surging interest in microbiota and its importance for our wellbeing has generated a bulk of research highlighting how the food we consume impacts bowel health and disease. Dietary fiber is known to promote bowel health, yet there is a limited number of studies on dietary fiber in connection to pelvic radiotherapy. Here, we review some of the literature on the subject and present the most recent publications in the field. Recent findings Advice given concerning dietary fiber intake during and after pelvic radiotherapy are inconsistent, with some clinics suggesting a decrease in intake and others an increase. Recent animal studies provide a solid support for a protective role of dietary fiber with regards to intestinal health after pelvic radiotherapy, mainly through its impact on the microbiota. No clinical study has yet provided unambiguous evidence for a similar function of dietary fiber in humans undergoing pelvic radiotherapy. There is a lack of evidence behind the dietary advice given to cancer survivors suffering from radiation-induced bowel dysfunction, and high-quality and well powered studies with long follow-up times are needed.
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