Dietary patterns of menopausal women can affect the risks of breast cancer
Researchers in the UK have published the results of a study tracking the dietary patterns of middle-aged British women since birth in order to determine the links between diet and high breast density, which is considered to be "one of the strongest biomarkers of breast cancer risk."
The energy intake of 1161 women was recorded since their birth in 1946, initially through 24-hour recalls and later via five-day records and in addition to this, mammographic breast density was measured. The goal of the study was to determine "associations between energy intake, dietary patterns, and percent breast density."
Mammographic density indicates the white radiodense area on a mammogram of the breast in comparison to the grey radiolucent area. Breasts with a very high density could be within the 75% to 100% density category, moderate density is 50% to 74%, "partially fatty" breasts range from a 1% to 24% density and "entirely fatty" breasts have close to no density at all, according to radiologist Steven B. Halls.
Studies show that "women who have a breast density of 75 percent or higher on a mammogram have a risk of breast cancer that is four to five times greater than that of women with little or no density," according to the American Association for Cancer Research. The link between the dietary patterns of middle-aged women and breast density could therefore be a major factor in breast cancer prevention.
Although the dietary intake during childhood did not indicate any relevance to breast density, the study of British women showed that dietary patterns and energy intake in menopausal and postmenopausal women "during middle life" is a significant factor and acts as a "determinant of subsequent mammographic breast density measured 15 years later."
Sources:
"Energy intake and dietary patterns in childhood and throughout adulthood and mammographic density: results from a British prospective cohort," Cancer Causes and Contol, Vol. 22, No. 2, Feb. 2011, Jan. 31 2011
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21113794
"Mammographic density and risk of breast cancer," American Association for Cancer Research, Science Daily, 23 Apr. 2010, 31 Jan. 2011 http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2010/04/100421102338.htm
Steven B. Halls, MD "How to find out the "mammographic density" of your breasts: Hints from a radiologist," Halls MD, 24 May. 2008, 31 Jan. 2011
http://www.halls.md/breast/density.htm
The energy intake of 1161 women was recorded since their birth in 1946, initially through 24-hour recalls and later via five-day records and in addition to this, mammographic breast density was measured. The goal of the study was to determine "associations between energy intake, dietary patterns, and percent breast density."
Mammographic density indicates the white radiodense area on a mammogram of the breast in comparison to the grey radiolucent area. Breasts with a very high density could be within the 75% to 100% density category, moderate density is 50% to 74%, "partially fatty" breasts range from a 1% to 24% density and "entirely fatty" breasts have close to no density at all, according to radiologist Steven B. Halls.
Studies show that "women who have a breast density of 75 percent or higher on a mammogram have a risk of breast cancer that is four to five times greater than that of women with little or no density," according to the American Association for Cancer Research. The link between the dietary patterns of middle-aged women and breast density could therefore be a major factor in breast cancer prevention.
Although the dietary intake during childhood did not indicate any relevance to breast density, the study of British women showed that dietary patterns and energy intake in menopausal and postmenopausal women "during middle life" is a significant factor and acts as a "determinant of subsequent mammographic breast density measured 15 years later."
Sources:
"Energy intake and dietary patterns in childhood and throughout adulthood and mammographic density: results from a British prospective cohort," Cancer Causes and Contol, Vol. 22, No. 2, Feb. 2011, Jan. 31 2011
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21113794
"Mammographic density and risk of breast cancer," American Association for Cancer Research, Science Daily, 23 Apr. 2010, 31 Jan. 2011 http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2010/04/100421102338.htm
Steven B. Halls, MD "How to find out the "mammographic density" of your breasts: Hints from a radiologist," Halls MD, 24 May. 2008, 31 Jan. 2011
http://www.halls.md/breast/density.htm
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