Effects of anti-inflammatory dietary education on sleep disturbances among patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial.
Lan Cheng, Zhenzhen Huang, Jianyun He et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial assessed whether anti-inflammatory dietary education could improve sleep and related outcomes in 132 patients with breast cancer, sleep disturbances, and ongoing chemotherapy. Participants received a 12-week program based on the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index or usual care; 116 completed the 12-week assessment. In the completer analysis, sleep disturbance was less common with education than usual care (49.2% vs. 78.9%, P < 0.001). The intervention also improved PSQI scores and overall quality of life and was accompanied by favorable changes in dietary inflammatory scores and inflammatory biomarkers.
Key findings
- At 12 weeks, sleep disturbance affected 49.2% of the intervention group versus 78.9% of the control group (P < 0.001) in the completer analysis.
- The intervention produced a greater reduction in PSQI scores (β = - 2.10; 95% CI: - 3.01, - 1.18; P < 0.001).
- Overall quality of life improved more with the intervention (β = 14.07; 95% CI: 8.61, 19.52; P < 0.001).
- Interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein decreased, while interleukin-10 increased (all P < 0.05).
Why it matters
Sleep disturbance is a relevant concern during breast cancer chemotherapy. This trial suggests that structured dietary education may improve sleep and quality of life, alongside changes in inflammatory biomarkers. The findings broaden the evidence on supportive approaches during treatment, while the intervention’s effects should be interpreted in light of the trial design and follow-up period.
What to keep in mind
The 12-week assessment provides limited evidence about longer-term effects; the reported comparison of sleep-disturbance proportions used a completer analysis, with 116 of 132 participants completing assessment.