Shaw, C., Mortimer, P., & Judd, P.A. (2007). Randomized controlled trial comparing a low-fat diet with a weight-reduction diet in breast cancer-related lymphedema. Cancer, 109(10), 1949–1956.
To evaluate whether using dietary interventions could be beneficial in the treament of arm lymphedema in patients who have breast cancer-related lymphedema
The study used a randomized controlled trial design with two interventions and one control group.
Results showed significant reduction in body weight (p = 0.006), body mass index (p = 0.008), and skin fold thickness measured at four sites (p = 0.044) in the weight-reduction and low-fat groups but not in the control group. There was a reduction in excessive arm volume over the 24 weeks but no significant difference between groups. There was a significant correlation between weight loss and a reduction in excess am volume irrespective of the dietary group (p < 0.002). Weight loss for the control, weight-reduction, and low-fat groups were 60%, 95%, and 76%, respectively. Weight reduction appears to be an effective means of assisting in the reduction of arm volume during the treatment of the lymphedema arm.
A good study that identifies an important risk factor and intervention.