Midnight Snack Might Raise Odds for Breast Cancer Recurrence

Breast cancer patients who eat between dinner and breakfast might be at a higher risk of a recurrence, according to researchers from the University of California (UC), San Diego School of Medicine.

Based on a study of 2,400 early-stage breast cancer survivors, the researchers found that short overnight fast of less than 13 hours may contribute to a 36 percent higher breast cancer recurrence and 21 percent higher death risk from the condition than individuals who consistently fasted longer.

Catherine Marinac, lead author of the study and doctoral candidate at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, stressed the importance of timing meals properly. According to her, "Previous research has focused on what to eat for cancer prevention, but when we eat may also matter because it appears to affect metabolic health." 

Meal timing influences metabolic health which is essential in keeping the body healthy. Fasting less hours consistently is connected to less rest and sleeplessness as well as larger amounts of HbA1C, a marker of normal glucose levels, according to Consumer Health Day.

The result of the study, published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology on March 31, is considered important in the prevention and control of cancer, as poor sleeping habits and increased HbA1c amounts on the body have been previously linked with heightened breast cancer risk. 

The researchers are now pushing for randomized testing to study whether or not extended overnight fasting would lessen the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease cancer and type 2 diabetes.

"If future trials confirm that habitual prolonged nightly fasting improves metabolic health, this would be an important discovery in prevention that could reduce the risk of cancers, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease," said Ruth Patterson, PhD, senior author and leader of the cancer prevention program at Moores Cancer Center.