Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Mentor/Supervising Professor Name
Somayaji, Darryl
Abstract (Description of Research)
Healthy plant-based eating, a health-related behavior that nurses may promote, has been associated with a decrease in multiple types of cancer. However, the association of a healthy plant-based dietary pattern with decreased female reproductive cancers has not yet been established.
This review of the literature followed PRISMA guidelines to search for the relationship between a healthy plant-based dietary pattern and incidence of and mortality from a breast or gynecological cancer diagnosis. Databases searched for this review included PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science.
We identified 27 publications that met the qualifications for inclusion. Twelve studies covered mortality from breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer in six cohorts, comparing plant-based eating to meat-eating dietary patterns with no consistent trends. Fifteen publications reported incidence of breast, uterine, cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer in 11 cohorts related to diet exposure, finding trends toward a statistically significant reduction in gynecological and breast cancer risks for plant-based eaters compared to omnivores.
Studies are limited in reporting cancer incidence or mortality related to healthy plant-based dietary patterns, especially for female breast and gynecological cancers. Limited, emerging evidence suggests that the greater the adherence toward a healthy plant-based diet, the lower the risk of female reproductive cancer. With overall trends to positive associations for reducing risk and evidence that a healthy plant-based diet is protective against other comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, nurses may recommend a healthy plant-based, plant-predominant diet for improved health and possible reduction in female reproductive cancer.
Included in
Epidemiology Commons, Oncology Commons, Public Health and Community Nursing Commons, Women's Health Commons
Association of Plant-based Dietary Patterns with Female Reproductive Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Systematic Review
Healthy plant-based eating, a health-related behavior that nurses may promote, has been associated with a decrease in multiple types of cancer. However, the association of a healthy plant-based dietary pattern with decreased female reproductive cancers has not yet been established.
This review of the literature followed PRISMA guidelines to search for the relationship between a healthy plant-based dietary pattern and incidence of and mortality from a breast or gynecological cancer diagnosis. Databases searched for this review included PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science.
We identified 27 publications that met the qualifications for inclusion. Twelve studies covered mortality from breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer in six cohorts, comparing plant-based eating to meat-eating dietary patterns with no consistent trends. Fifteen publications reported incidence of breast, uterine, cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer in 11 cohorts related to diet exposure, finding trends toward a statistically significant reduction in gynecological and breast cancer risks for plant-based eaters compared to omnivores.
Studies are limited in reporting cancer incidence or mortality related to healthy plant-based dietary patterns, especially for female breast and gynecological cancers. Limited, emerging evidence suggests that the greater the adherence toward a healthy plant-based diet, the lower the risk of female reproductive cancer. With overall trends to positive associations for reducing risk and evidence that a healthy plant-based diet is protective against other comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, nurses may recommend a healthy plant-based, plant-predominant diet for improved health and possible reduction in female reproductive cancer.