# Fruit and vegetable intervention in lactating women to reduce breast cancer risk: effects on breast cell DNA methylation, breast inflammation, and weight

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST · 2022 · $1,069,708

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Fruit and vegetable intervention in lactating women to reduce breast cancer risk: effects on breast cell
DNA methylation, breast inflammation, and weight
Mechanistic data show that compounds in fruits and vegetables have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic
properties that can reduce breast cancer risk. However, observational and interventional studies have provided
mixed results, and a recent report by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) concludes that the
data are insufficient but suggestive that non-starchy vegetables and foods containing carotenoids reduce risk.
Measurement error, relatively low levels of carotenoid-rich fruit and vegetable intake in the study populations,
emphasis on diet in later adulthood, and confounding factors likely contribute to the weak associations.
Therefore, we will conduct a randomized diet intervention trial in young women to assess the extent to which at
least 8 to 10 daily servings of deeply pigmented and nutrient dense fruits and vegetables reduces biomarkers
of breast cancer risk. The intervention is focused on breastfeeding women because: 1) pregnancy and
lactation are normal early life course events; 2) the risk of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is
increased for up to 10 years postpartum; 3) a dietary intervention to reverse the detrimental molecular changes
associated with puberty and pregnancy is more likely to be successful in younger than in older women; 4) a
diet rich in fruits and vegetables is hypothesized to reduce the inflammation during lactation/weaning and lower
PABC risk; 5) postpartum lactating women may be a highly motivated population; and 6) breastmilk provides
access to the breast microenvironment and breast epithelial cells to noninvasively assess the diet intervention
directly in the breast. Four hundred nursing mothers will be randomly assigned to either the intervention arm, in
which they are asked to increase fruit and vegetable intake to at least 8 to 10 daily servings for one year, or to
a control condition in which participants receive a dietary guideline for breastfeeding mothers. Women in the
intervention arm will receive counseling and boxes of fruits and vegetables for the first 20 weeks, after which
they will continue to receive counseling. Changes in DNA methylation and cytokine profiles in breastmilk will be
evaluated. Maternal weight and body fat distribution, and infant growth will be monitored. These results will
greatly expand our knowledge of how diet alters molecular pathways in a specific organ, ultimately contributing
to both breast cancer etiology and prevention. Additionally, objective favorable results observed in the breasts
of young women can potentially contribute to important behavior changes aimed at reducing risk.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10445260
- **Project number:** 5R01CA230478-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
- **Principal Investigator:** Kathleen Frances Arcaro
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,069,708
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-06 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10445260

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10445260, Fruit and vegetable intervention in lactating women to reduce breast cancer risk: effects on breast cell DNA methylation, breast inflammation, and weight (5R01CA230478-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10445260. Licensed CC0.

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