Feasibility of Beans/Bran Enriching Nutritional Eating For Intestinal health & Cancer Including Activity for Longevity (BENEFICIAL), a pilot trial to improve healthy lifestyles among individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer

Authors: Leach HJ, Baxter BB, Beale MN, Smith H, Rao S, Ryan EP

Category: Lifestyles Behavior, Energy Balance & Chemoprevention
Conference Year: 2020

Abstract Body:
Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of an intervention to increase dietary fiber from rice bran (RB) and navy beans (NB) among individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer, while measuring physical activity (PA). Methods: A 12-week, pilot, randomized, single-blind, dietary intervention comparing RB+NB to a fibersol-2 a placebo control. Participants were ≥18 years of age, had one or more adenomatous polyps removed ≤3 years, and had not received chemotherapy or radiotherapy with their surgical removal of polyps/tumors. Three-day food logs were analyzed using Nutritionist Pro™ to estimate caloric and fiber intake, macronutrient and micronutrient consumption. The Automated Self-Administered 24-hour (ASA24®) Dietary Assessment Tool, and a SAS macro was used to calculate Healthy Eating Index (HEI). PA was measured at baseline and post-intervention using an activPAL accelerometer. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and retention rates, compliance to RB+NB intervention and PA measurement procedures, and median percent change from baseline to post-intervention for fiber, HEI whole grain and HEI total scores. Results: Out of N=68 assessed for eligibility, N=23 enrolled (33.8% accrual), and N=20 completed the intervention (86.9% retention). Compliance was 92% in the RB+NB intervention vs. 89% in the fibersol-2 control. In the RB+NB group, consumption of NB increased from 2 g/day to 30 g/day, and RB from 0 g/day to 30 g/day. Compliance with activPAL procedures and provision of valid data (≥10 hours of wear time per day, for ≥4 days) was 100%. Fiber intake (g/day) increased by 73% in RB+NB, and 82% in fibersol-2. HEI whole grain score improved by 270% in RB+NB, and 37% in fibersol-2. HEI total score improved by 10% in RB+NB, and 9.1% in fibersol-2. Conclusions: This pilot study supports the feasibility of a RB+NB intervention that included PA measurement. Participants were compliant to the RB+NB intervention and showed greater increases in whole grain intake than the Fibersol control. A larger trial is warranted to evaluate efficacy of RB+NB consumption, and PA changes on metabolic and cancer-related outcomes.

Keywords: colon cancer, prevention, fiber