Beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients

After diagnosis, many breast cancer patients start consuming high quantities of beetroot and carrot juice, in the hope of improving the outcome of their treatment. However, these foods are very high in nitrate, which can competitively inhibit the uptake of iodine by the thyroid, potentially leading...

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Main Authors: Diana Viorela ARTENE, Cristian I. BORDEA, Mircea D. CROITORU, Alexandru BLIDARU
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Amaltea Medical Publishing House 2016-09-01
Series:Romanian Journal of Medical Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rjmp.com.ro/articles/2016.3/RJMP_2016_3_Art-07.pdf
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author Diana Viorela ARTENE
Cristian I. BORDEA
Mircea D. CROITORU
Alexandru BLIDARU
author_facet Diana Viorela ARTENE
Cristian I. BORDEA
Mircea D. CROITORU
Alexandru BLIDARU
author_sort Diana Viorela ARTENE
collection DOAJ
description After diagnosis, many breast cancer patients start consuming high quantities of beetroot and carrot juice, in the hope of improving the outcome of their treatment. However, these foods are very high in nitrate, which can competitively inhibit the uptake of iodine by the thyroid, potentially leading to hypothyroidism or thyroid nodules. We applied a nitrate and iodine food frequency questionnare (asking about dairy, fish, seafood and iodized salt for iodine intake and spinach, carrots, beetroot, lettuce and arugula for nitrate intake) to 353 ER+/PR±/HER2-luminal A and B breast cancer patients during antiestrogenic treatment. We excluded patients with a thyroid disease diagnosis prior to the cancer diagnosis, smokers, ex-smokers and those with renal disease or bipolar disorder. The only correlations found between dietary intake of iodine and nitrate and the incidence of de novo thyroid nodules were: decreased risk for a daily intake of minimum 250ml dairy; and increased risk for daily intakes of over 200g spinach, 250g carrots or 250g beetroot. The correlations between dietary intake of nitrate and the incidence of de novo hypothyroidism were: decreased risk for a daily intake of iodized salt 2.5g and minimum of 100g fish or 250ml dairy; and increased risk for daily intakes of over 250g carrots or 250g beetroot. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the increased intake of nitrate-rich foods – particularly beetroot and carrot juice – is a risk factor for de novo hypothyroidism or thyroid nodules, after a breast cancer diagnosis.
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spelling doaj.art-d9b1b5eac27c4c38a24e92d13dad47192022-12-21T18:40:22ZengAmaltea Medical Publishing HouseRomanian Journal of Medical Practice1842-82582069-61082016-09-0111325125610.37897/RJMP.2016.3.7Beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patientsDiana Viorela ARTENE0Cristian I. BORDEA1Mircea D. CROITORU2Alexandru BLIDARU3„Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania„Prof. Dr. Al. Trestioreanu“ Institute of Oncology, Bucharest, RomaniaUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu Mures, Romania„Carol Davila“ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; „Prof. Dr. Al. Trestioreanu“ Institute of Oncology, Bucharest, RomaniaAfter diagnosis, many breast cancer patients start consuming high quantities of beetroot and carrot juice, in the hope of improving the outcome of their treatment. However, these foods are very high in nitrate, which can competitively inhibit the uptake of iodine by the thyroid, potentially leading to hypothyroidism or thyroid nodules. We applied a nitrate and iodine food frequency questionnare (asking about dairy, fish, seafood and iodized salt for iodine intake and spinach, carrots, beetroot, lettuce and arugula for nitrate intake) to 353 ER+/PR±/HER2-luminal A and B breast cancer patients during antiestrogenic treatment. We excluded patients with a thyroid disease diagnosis prior to the cancer diagnosis, smokers, ex-smokers and those with renal disease or bipolar disorder. The only correlations found between dietary intake of iodine and nitrate and the incidence of de novo thyroid nodules were: decreased risk for a daily intake of minimum 250ml dairy; and increased risk for daily intakes of over 200g spinach, 250g carrots or 250g beetroot. The correlations between dietary intake of nitrate and the incidence of de novo hypothyroidism were: decreased risk for a daily intake of iodized salt 2.5g and minimum of 100g fish or 250ml dairy; and increased risk for daily intakes of over 250g carrots or 250g beetroot. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the increased intake of nitrate-rich foods – particularly beetroot and carrot juice – is a risk factor for de novo hypothyroidism or thyroid nodules, after a breast cancer diagnosis.https://rjmp.com.ro/articles/2016.3/RJMP_2016_3_Art-07.pdfbreast cancerthyroid diseasebeetroot juicecompetitive iodine inhibition by nitratena+/i- symporter
spellingShingle Diana Viorela ARTENE
Cristian I. BORDEA
Mircea D. CROITORU
Alexandru BLIDARU
Beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients
Romanian Journal of Medical Practice
breast cancer
thyroid disease
beetroot juice
competitive iodine inhibition by nitrate
na+/i- symporter
title Beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients
title_full Beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients
title_fullStr Beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients
title_full_unstemmed Beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients
title_short Beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients
title_sort beetroot and carrot juice increase the risk of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism in breast cancer patients
topic breast cancer
thyroid disease
beetroot juice
competitive iodine inhibition by nitrate
na+/i- symporter
url https://rjmp.com.ro/articles/2016.3/RJMP_2016_3_Art-07.pdf
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