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Women after menopause often experience a decrease in lean body mass,1 an increase in body fat mass and a shift to central or android fat distribution 2, which may increase their risk for sarcopenia, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These body composition changes are believed to be, at least in part, due to a sudden decline in endogenous estrogen production at the time of menopause. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that menopausal hormone therapy (HT) may help counter these changes in body composition among postmenopausal women.2–4 most of the previous investigations in this area have been limited to observational studies and clinical trials, with small sample sizes or short intervention times. Techniques for assessing body composition have varied widely across the studies and many findings have been based on anthropometric measurements, such as body mass index or hip and waist circumferences, as proxies for obesity and body fat distribution, but lacking assessments of lean body mass. Recently, a subsample of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Estrogen Plus Progestogen (EPT) Trial was used to investigate the affect of EPT on body composition.5 This subsample included women who had body composition measurements at baseline and year 3 from the three WHI bone mineral density (BMD) centers. The findings from the subsample indicated that a 3-year EPT intervention significantly helped to maintain lean body mass and prevented the shift toward android fat distribution in postmenopausal women. The effect size of EPT on lean body mass was relatively small (< 1 kg), however, we should expect that the beneficial treatment effect of E alone from the WHI ET trial on body composition to be at least as large as the findings from the WHI EPT trial, because previous studies have suggested that the magnitude of the impact of estrogen alone therapy on body composition might be larger than that of the EPT therapy6. It has been reported that both EPT and E alone interventions significantly reduced fracture risk among postmenopausal women.7,8 In order to understand the clinical implications of the beneficial effect of HT on lean body mass, we proposed to investigate whether the preserved lean body mass by HT contributed to the reduction of fracture risks among women assigned to hormone interventions in both the EPT and the ET trials. Most fractures occur because of a fall. Hence, we also tested whether the lean body mass effects of HT also influence fall risk. We hypothesized that long-term use of postmenopausal HT (estrogen plus progestogen therapy, EPT; estrogen therapy alone, ET) would favorably affect age-related changes in lean body mass and that this favorable effect on lean body mass would contribute to a decrease in fractures.

OBJECTIVE In adults, certain body fat depots have greater impact on cardiometabolic risk than total adiposity. Whether similar relationships exist in children is uncertain. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures of body fat distribution and total body adiposity with cardiometabolic risk factors in Hispanic girls. METHODS Measures of total percent body fat, percent of total fat within the android, gynoid, leg, and trunk regions, and cardiometabolic biomarkers (insulin, glucose, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides (TG), low and high lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, HDL-C)) were obtained from 232 Hispanic girls (age 10.7 ±1.1 years). Regression models for each metabolic parameter were run against adiposity measures. Partial correlations of the adiposity measures were used to compare associations between adiposity measures and the cardiometabolic risk factors, controlling for somatic maturation. RESULTS Total and regional adiposity were significantly related with cardiometabolic risk factors (P

Background Overweight status after breast cancer treatment may increase a woman’s risk for recurrent disease and/or early onset cardiovascular disease. Green tea has been proposed to promote weight loss and favourably modify glucose, insulin and blood lipids. This pilot study tested the effect of daily decaffeinated green tea consumption for 6 months on weight and body composition, select metabolic parameters, and lipid profiles in overweight breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the association of exercise frequency (ExFreq) and volume (total weight lifted by military press and squats (SQ)) with change in body composition among postmenopausal women participating in a progressive resistance training study. Methods: Previously, sedentary women (n = 122, age = 56.3 +/- 4.3 yr) were followed for 6 yr. At 6 yr, there were women who had been randomly assigned to resistance training at baseline (n = 65) controls that were permitted to cross over to the exercise program at 1 yr (n = 32) and 25 true controls. Exercisers and crossovers directed to perform eight core exercises for two sets of eight repetitions at 70%-80% of one-repetition maximum, three times weekly, plus progressive weight bearing, stretching, and balance. Body weight and fat were measured at baseline and annually using anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results: Average change in body weight and total body fat were 0.83 +/- 5.39 and 0.64 +/- 4.95 kg at 6 yr, respectively. In multiple linear regression, ExFreq, military press, and SQ were significantly inversely associated with change in body weight (standardized beta coefficient (SBC) = -0.22 to -0.28, P < 0.01), fat (SBC = -0.25 to -0.33, P < 0.01), and trunk fat (SBC = -0.20 to -0.31, P < 0.03) after adjusting for age, years on hormone therapy, change in lean soft tissue, baseline body composition, and baseline habitual exercise. The lowest tertile of SQ (equivalent to 2.5% attendance) demonstrated significant gain in weight, fat, and trunk fat over 6 yr (P < 0.004), whereas the highest tertile SQ (equivalent to 64% attendance) was able to maintain their weight, total, and regional fat. Conclusions: We conclude that resistance training is a viable long-term method to prevent weight gain and deleterious changes in body composition in postmenopausal women

Obesity, often defined as a body mass index (BMI; weight (kg)/height (m)(2)) of 30 or higher, has been associated with mortality, but age-related body composition changes can be masked by stable BMI. A subset of Women's Health Initiative participants (postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years) enrolled between 1993 and 1998 who had received dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans for estimation of total body fat (TBF) and lean body mass (LBM) (n = 10,525) were followed for 13.6 (standard deviation, 4.6) years to test associations between BMI, body composition, and incident mortality. Overall, BMI ≥35 was associated with increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16, 1.82), while TBF and LBM were not. However, an interaction between age and body composition (P < 0.001) necessitated age stratification. Among women aged 50-59 years, higher %TBF increased risk of death (HR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.38, 4.34) and higher %LBM decreased risk of death (HR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.74), despite broad-ranging BMIs (16.4-69.1). However, the relationships were reversed among women aged 70-79 years (P < 0.05). BMI did not adequately capture mortality risk in this sample of postmenopausal women. Our data suggest the clinical utility of evaluating body composition by age group to more robustly assess mortality risk among postmenopausal women.

BackgroundAnticholinergic medication use has been associated with several negative health outcomes in older adults, but little is known about its risk for fractures.ObjectiveTo examine the association between anticholinergic medication use and fracture outcomes in community-dwelling postmenopausal women.MethodsUtilizing a prospective cohort design, we examined data collected from 137,408 women aged 50-79 years from the Women's Health Initiative observational study and clinical trials not reporting hip fracture at baseline. Medications with moderate or strong anticholinergic effects were identified directly from drug containers during in-person interviews. The main outcome was fractures (hip, lower arm/wrist and total fractures). We performed multivariable Cox proportional hazard survival modelling to assess the association between anticholinergic use and the risk of fractures.ResultsAt baseline, 10.6% of the women were using an anticholinergic medication, of which antihistamines were the most common medication class (48.4%). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for anticholinergic medication use were 1.08 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-1.30) for hip fracture, 1.01 (95% CI 0.91-1.13) for lower arm/wrist fracture and 1.03 (95% CI 0.98-1.09) for total fractures. We observed no association according to subclass or count of anticholinergic medications, or trends between the duration of anticholinergic use and any of the fracture outcomes.ConclusionAnticholinergic medication use was not associated with an increased risk of fractures among community-dwelling women. Future research should make efforts to capture over-the-counter medication use and the cumulative anticholinergic burden in relation to important health outcomes for older adults.

Adiposity has been associated with cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors in children, but whether moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) affects the association remains unclear. PURPOSE: To dete...

Objectives: Genetic variants and traits in metabolic signaling pathways may interact with obesity, physical activity, and exogenous estrogen (E), influencing postmenopausal breast cancer risk, but these inter-related pathways are incompletely understood. Stratifying via obesity and lifestyle modifiers, we evaluated the effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)/insulin resistance (IR)–related traits on breast cancer risk as a mediator or influencing factor in this case-cohort study. Method: Using 75 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to IGF-I/IR traits and signaling pathways, and data from 1,003 postmenopausal women in Women’s Health Initiative Observation ancillary studies, we assessed the effects of IGF-I/IR-traits (fasting total and free IGF-I, IGF binding protein-3, glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment–insulin resistance) by proportional change estimation. Using traits as mediators of the IGF-I/IR–traits genetic variants-cancer relationship, we partitioned total effect of these genetic variants on cancer risk into two putative mechanisms: 1) indirect (mediated by traits) and 2) direct (through pathways other than traits). For the effects of IGF-I/IR traits on IGF-I/IR signaling pathways–relevant genetic variants–cancer risk, we used the same algorithm as that for mediator, but interpreted as an influential factor. Results: Seven SNPs in IGF-I and INS genes were associated with breast cancer risk. These associations differed between non-obese/active and obese/inactive women and between exogenous E nonusers and users. The mediation effects of IGF-I/IR traits on these SNPs–cancer relationship differed between strata, but only roughly 35% of the cancer risk due to the SNPs was mediated by IGF-I/IR traits. Similarly, carriers of 20 SNPs in PIK3R1, AKT1/2, and MAPK1 genes (signaling pathways–related genetic variants) had different associations with breast cancer between strata, and the proportion of the SNP–cancer relationship explained by IGF-I/IR traits varied 45-50% between the strata. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IGF-I/IR genetic variants interact with obesity and lifestyle factors, altering cancer risk partially through pathways other than IGF-I/IR traits. Citation Format: Su Yon Jung, Gloria Ho, Thomas Rohan, Howard Strickler, Jennifer Bea, Jeanette Papp, Eric Sobel, Zuo-Feng Zhang, Carolyn Crandall. Interaction of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin resistance-related genetic variants with obesity and lifestyle factors on postmenopausal breast cancer risk [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1277. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1277

BackgroundMaintenance of lean muscle mass and related strength is associated with lower risk for numerous chronic diseases of aging in women.ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate whether the association between dietary protein and lean mass differs by physical activity level, amino acid composition, and body mass index categories.DesignWe performed a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort.Participants/settingParticipants were postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative with body composition measurements by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (n=8,298).Main outcome measuresOur study measured percent lean mass, percent fat mass, and lean body mass index.Statistical analyses performedLinear regression models adjusted for scanner serial number, age, calibrated energy intake, race/ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and recreational physical activity were used to determine the relationship between protein intake and body composition measures. Likelihood ratio tests and stratified analysis were used to investigate physical activity and body mass index as potential effect modifiers.ResultsBiomarker-calibrated protein intake was positively associated with percent lean mass; women in the highest protein quintile had 6.3 percentage points higher lean mass than the lowest quintile (P

A body shape index (ABSI) has been proposed as a possible improvement over waist circumference (WC) as a marker of abdominal adiposity because it removes the correlation of WC with body mass index (BMI) and with height. We assessed the association of ABSI with four obesity-related cancers compared to that of other anthropometric measures of adiposity. We used data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a large cohort of postmenopausal women, recruited between 1993 and 1998 and followed until September 2013, to assess the associations of ABSI and other anthropometric measures with risk of cancers of the breast, endometrium, colorectum, and kidney. The four comparison anthropometric measures were BMI, WC, waist circumference-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Over a median of 12.7 years of follow-up, among 143,901 women, we identified 7,039 invasive breast cancers, 1,157 endometrial cancers, 1,908 colorectal cancers, and 376 kidney cancers. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the association of quintiles of the five measures with risk of the four cancers. Unlike the other anthropometric indices, ABSI was not associated with increased risk of breast or endometrial cancer. BMI and WC were comparable as predictors of breast and endometrial cancer, and these associations were unchanged after mutual adjustment. For colorectal and kidney cancers, ABSI was a significant predictor comparable to BMI; however, WC showed the strongest association with colorectal cancer, and WC, WHtR, and WHR all showed stronger associations with kidney cancer. In contrast to other anthropometric measures, ABSI showed no association with risk of breast or endometrial cancer and was more weakly associated with risk of colorectal and kidney cancers compared to more established measures of central adiposity.

Few epidemiological studies have investigated the association between circulating concentrations of the active vitamin D metabolite 1,25(OH)2D and metabolic syndrome. We sought to determine whether blood levels of 1,25(OH)2D are associated with metabolic syndrome and its individual components, including waist circumference, triglycerides, blood pressure, and glucose, and high-density lipoprotein. We also investigated these associations for the more abundant precursor vitamin D metabolite, 25(OH)D.Participants from two completed clinical trials of colorectal neoplasia with available metabolic syndrome data and blood samples for measurement of 1,25(OH)2D (n=1048) and 25(OH)D (n=2096) were included. Cross-sectional analyses of the association between concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D, 25(OH)D, metabolic syndrome, and its components were conducted.A statistically significant inverse association was observed for circulating concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D and metabolic syndrome, with adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of 0.73 (0.52-1.04) and 0.52 (0.36-0.75) for the second and third tertiles of 1,25(OH)2D, respectively (p-trend0.001). Significant inverse relationships were also observed between 1,25(OH)2D and high triglycerides (p-trend0.001), and low high-density lipoprotein (p-trend0.001). For 25(OH)D concentrations, significant inverse associations were found for metabolic syndrome (p-trend0.01), high waist circumference (p-trend0.04) and triglyceride levels (p-trend0.01). Participants with 25(OH)D ≥30 ng/ml and in the highest tertile of 1,25(OH)2D demonstrated significantly lower odds of metabolic syndrome, with an OR (95% CI) of 0.38 (0.19-0.75) compared to those in the lowest category for both metabolites.These results provide new evidence that the relatively rarely-studied active hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, is associated with metabolic syndrome and its components, and confirm prior findings for 25(OH)D. The finding that 1,25(OH)2D is related to high-density lipoprotein, while 25(OH)D is not, suggests that there may be an independent mechanism of action for 1,25(OH)2D in relation to metabolic dysregulation.

Background Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at late stages and consequently the 5-year survival rate is only 44%. However, there is limited knowledge of the association of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and obesity on mortality among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The purpose of our study was to prospectively investigate the association of (1) measured body mass index (BMI), and (2) self-reported physical activity with ovarian cancer-specific and all-cause mortality in postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). Methods Participants were 600 women diagnosed with primary ovarian cancer subsequent to enrollment in WHI. Exposure data, including measured height and weight and reported physical activity from recreation and walking, used in this analysis were ascertained at the baseline visit for the WHI. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to examine the associations between BMI, physical activity and mortality endpoints. Results Vigorous-intensity physical activity was associated with a 26% lower risk of ovarian cancer specific-mortality (HR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.56–0.98) and a 24% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR=0.76; 95% CI: 0.58–0.98) compared to no vigorous-intensity physical activity. BMI was not associated with mortality. Conclusions Participating in vigorous-intensity physical activity, assessed prior to ovarian cancer diagnosis, appears to be associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer mortality.

Gynecologic cancer patients frequently desire alternative and/or complementary interventions or medicines to aid in relief of both cancer-related and treatment-related side effects. Furthermore, women also seek treatment to aid in superior outcomes and cure rates. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that the use of complementary and/or alternative medicine (CAM) is underreported or not discussed with physicians providing cancer care. In gynecologic cancer literature, there is a lack of scientific evidence either supporting or negating CAM. Because of the lack of information available, health care providers do not have good information regarding safety, efficacy, and dose of CAM. This leads to miscommunication or absence of communication between providers and patients. Because patients do use CAM to improve quality of life (QOL) during and after treatment, it would be educational for providers to know the specific QOL deficits among patients that require attention. Thus, with the ultimate goal of improving QOL for gynecologic cancer patients, providers should be pushed to investigate CAM and determine an honest support or rejection of these therapies.

AB Purpose: Higher physical activity (PA) has been associated with greater attenuation of body fat gain and preservation of lean mass across the lifespan. These analyses aimed to determine relationships of change in PA to changes in fat and lean body mass in a longitudinal prospective study of postmenopausal women. Methods: Among 11,491 women enrolled at three Women's Health Initiative clinical centers who were selected to undergo dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, 8352 had baseline body composition measurements, with at least one repeated measure at years 1, 3, and 6. PA data were obtained by self-report at baseline and 3 and 6 yr of follow-up. Time-varying PA effect on change in lean and fat mass during the 6-yr study period for age groups (50-59 yr, 60-69 yr, and 70-79 yr) was estimated using mixed effects linear regression. Results: Baseline PA and body composition differed significantly among the three age groups. The association of change in fat mass from baseline and time-varying PA differed across the three age groups (P = 0.0006). In women age 50-59 yr, gain in fat mass from baseline was attenuated with higher levels of PA. Women age 70-79 yr lost fat mass at all PA levels. In contrast, change in lean mass from baseline and time-varying PA did not differ by age group (P = 0.1935). Conclusions: The association between PA and change in fat mass varies by age group, with younger, but not older, women benefiting from higher levels of aerobic PA. Higher levels of aerobic activity are not associated with changes in lean mass, which tends to decrease in older women regardless of activity level. Greater attention to resistance training exercises may be needed to prevent lean mass loss as women age. (C) 2013 American College of Sports Medicine

Background: Prospective studies in Western and Asian populations suggest that height is a risk factor for various cancers. However, few studies have explored potential confounding or effect modification of the association by other factors. Methods: We examined the association between height measured at enrollment in 144,701 women participating in the Women's Health Initiative and risk of all cancers combined and cancer at 19 specific sites. Over a median follow-up of 12.0 years, 20,928 incident cancers were identified. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate HR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) per 10 cm increase in height, with adjustment for established risk factors. We also examined potential effect modification of the association with all cancer and specific cancers. Results: Height was significantly positively associated with risk of all cancers (HR = 1.13; 95% CI, 1.11–1.16), as well as with cancers of the thyroid, rectum, kidney, endometrium, colorectum, colon, ovary, and breast, and with multiple myeloma and melanoma (range of HRs: 1.13 for breast cancer to 1.29 for multiple myeloma and thyroid cancer). These associations were generally insensitive to adjustment for confounders, and there was little evidence of effect modification. Conclusions: This study confirms the positive association of height with risk of all cancers and a substantial number of cancer sites. Impact: Identification of single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated both with height and with increased cancer risk may help elucidate the association. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(8); 1353–63. ©2013 AACR.

Background: Interest in biomarker patterns and disease has led to the development of immunoassays that evaluate multiple analytes in parallel while using little sample. However, there are no current standards for multiplex configuration, validation, and quality. Thus, validation by platform, population, and question of interest is recommended. We sought to determine the best blood fraction for multiplex evaluation of circulating biomarkers in post-menopausal women, and to explore body composition phenotype discrimination by biomarkers. Methods: Archived serum and plasma samples from a sample of healthy post-menopausal women with the highest (n=9) and lowest (n=11) percent lean mass, as determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, were used to measure 90 analytes using bead-based, suspension multiplex assays. Replicates of serum and plasma were analyzed in a random selection of four of these individuals. Results: Ninety percent of the analytes were detectable for ≥50% of samples; when limited to these well detected analytes, mean replicate correlations for serum and plasma were 0.87 and 0.85, respectively. Serum had lower error rates discriminating phenotypes; seven serum vs. two plasma analytes discriminated extreme body phenotypes. Conclusions: Serum and plasma performed similarly for the majority of the analytes. Serum showed a slight advantage in predicting extreme body composition phenotypes in postmenopausal women using parallel evaluation of analytes.

Overweight status is common among women breast cancer survivors and places them at greater risk for metabolic disorders, cardiovascular morbidity, and breast cancer recurrence than nonoverweight survivors. Efforts to promote weight control in this population are needed. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of low-fat or low-carbohydrate diet counseling on weight loss, body composition, and changes in metabolic indexes in overweight postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. Survivors (n = 40) were randomized to receive dietitian counseling for a low-fat or a reduced carbohydrate diet for 6 mo. Weight and metabolic measures, including glucose, insulin, HbA1c, HOMA, lipids, hsCRP, as well as blood pressure were measured at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 wk. Dietary intake of fat and carbohydrate was reduced by 24 and 76 g/day, respectively. Weight loss averaged 6.1 (± 4.8 kg) at 24 wk and was not significantly different by diet group; loss of lean mass was also demonstrated. All subjects demonstrated improvements in total/HDL cholesterol ratio, and significant reductions in HbA1c, insulin, and HOMA. Triglycerides levels were significantly reduced only in the low-carbohydrate diet group (-31.1 ± 36.6; P = 0.01). Significant improvements in weight and metabolic indexes can be demonstrated among overweight breast cancer survivors adherent to either a carbohydrate- or fat-restricted diet.

Genetic variations in the adrenergic receptor (ADR) have been associated with body composition in cross-sectional studies. Recent findings suggest that ADR variants may also modify body composition response to lifestyle. We assessed the role of ADR variants in body composition response to 12 months of resistance training versus control in previously sedentary postmenopausal women. Randomized trial completers were genotyped for A2B Glu9/12 by fragment length analysis, and B2 Gln27Glu and B3 Trp64Arg by TaqMan (n = 148, 54% hormone therapy users). Associations between genotypes and body composition, by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, were analyzed using univariate models. There was no main effect of individual genes on change in body composition, however, gene × exercise interactions were observed for A2B Glu9/12 and B2 Gln27Glu on change in lean soft tissue (LST, p = 0.02); exercisers on the A2B Glu9− background gained LST compared to a loss among controls over 12 months (p

Objective: To measure change in sugary beverage consumption with nutrition education among low-income 4th and 5th graders. Theory, Prior Research, Rationale: Fifteen percent of US children aged 6 to 11 years are overweight, with an additional 30% at risk. Sugary beverage consumption is linked to obesity and US Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting intake. We hypothesized that nutrition education would result in decreased sugary beverage consumption. Study Design, Setting, Participants, and Intervention: The University of Arizona Nutrition Network (UANN) provides general nutrition education training and materials, aligned with USDA guidelines, to teachers at SNAP-Ed eligible schools. UANN administered self-report behavioral questionnaires to students in 8% of participating 4th and 5th grade classrooms in 5 Arizona counties in both Fall and Spring. Outcome, Measures and Analysis: Descriptive statistics were computed for student demographics and beverage consumption on the prior day. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate change in classroom averages between Fall and Spring. Results: Thirty-three classrooms participated (N1⁄4770 pre, 765 post, 90% complete surveys). Participant characteristics: 71% 4th graders, 50.5% female, 10.1 years of age. Fall sugary beverage consumption was 1.05 ( 0.23) times the previous day; milk and water were consumed 1.58 ( 0.24) and 5.20 ( 0.70) times, respectively. As expected, Arizona springtime beverage consumption increased overall (3.2%). Sugary beverage consumption increased 14.4% and accounted for the greatest portion of the total increase (p1⁄40.006). Small increases in milk (p1⁄40.03) and water (p1⁄40.86) were observed. Conclusions and Implications: This study suggests the need for beverage specific education to shift the children toward more healthful choices. Further research is needed to assess beverage consumption patterns longitudinally, controlling for season. Funding: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education.

Breast cancer patients generally demonstrate a gain in body fat mass accompanied by loss of lean mass (i.e. muscle) during cancer therapy (Demark-Wahnefried et al, J. Clin Oncol, 2001). These changes may lead to adverse metabolic and inflammatory phenotypes. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate changes in metabolic, inflammatory, and growth factor biomarkers among breast cancer survivors following 8 weeks of supervised resistance training combined with self-reported cardiovascular training. No diet or weight loss component was included in the intervention. Twenty-seven breast cancer survivors (78.3% Caucasian, mean age 56.5 ± 8.1 yrs, mean BMI 29.8 ± 4.4kg/m2) who were on average 5 years post-cancer treatment were recruited to participate in a prospective behavioral intervention trial to test the hypothesis that weight bearing activity including stretching, resistance, balance, and aerobic training would improve select metabolic and inflammatory indicators over an 8 week period. Height, weight, body composition (dual X-ray absorptiometry), fasting plasma glucose, insulin, IL-6, CRP, IL-1Ra, and IGF-1 were measured at baseline and 8 weeks. IL-6, IL-1Ra and IGF-1 were analyzed using high sensitivity ELISA and glucose was measured by a glucose oxidase-peroxide reaction; insulin and CRP testing were performed by the local hospital clinical laboratory. The homeostasis model of insulin resistance was computed (HOMA-IR) from glucose and insulin values. Eighty-one percent of the sample completed the 8-week intervention. Among completers (n=22) there was no significant change in body weight. Inflammatory response, as assessed using IL-1Ra, was improved (76.75 ± 161.39, p Breast cancer survivors participating in a pilot, short-term structured physical activity intervention targeting resistance training, in the absence of diet or weight change, demonstrated a significant improvement in the anti-inflammatory biomarker IL-1Ra without concomitant increases in pro-inflammatory biomarkers, IL-6 and CRP. Larger studies with sufficient sample size to detect statistically significant differences should be pursued; combining structured exercise with diet to support weight reduction may also be superior and should be evaluated. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A119.

e24093 Background: There are over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, and many experience long-term side effects from chemotherapy. Factors associated with peripheral neuropathy (PN), one troubling side effect, following breast cancer among women are unknown. Methods: We included 2,420 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative and diagnosed prospectively with local or regional stage breast cancer and followed in the Life and Longevity After Cancer (LILAC) study. PN was assessed by response to the baseline LILAC questionnaire regarding the presence of “nerve problems, tingling sensations” after treatment. Data were collected on initial course of therapy (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy) through Medicare linkage or the LILAC staging and treatment form. Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used for univariate comparison of socio-demographics, clinical and diagnosis characteristics associated with the presence or absence of PN. Results: The sample included 1,913 women (79%) with local and 507 women (21%) with regional stage disease. Initial course of therapy included either surgery alone (21%), surgery and radiation (53%), or surgery and chemotherapy (+/- radiation) (26%). Seventeen percent of women reported experiencing PN days (30%), months (46%) or years (24%) following treatment. Three-quarters (74%) reported ongoing symptoms at the time of the LILAC survey. PN was reported by 33% of chemotherapy recipients, compared to 12% in the surgery alone group, and 11% in the group that received surgery and radiation (p