Indication: Breast cancer

Source: Br J Cancer, January 12, 2004;90(1):122-7.

Research: Researchers investigated the link between intakes of plant foods, fi­ber and relative fat and risk of breast cancer in 11,726 postmeno­pausal women. Data were obtained by an interview-based diet history method, a structured questionnaire, anthropometrical measurements and national and regional cancer registries.

Results: During 89,602 person-years of follow-up, 342 incident cases were documented. Cox regression analysis examined breast cancer risks adjusted for potential confounders. High fiber intakes were associated with a lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. The combination high fiber-low fat had the lowest risk when examining the effect in each cell of cross-classified tertiles of fiber and fat intakes. There was no significant association between breast cancer risk and intakes of any of the plant food subgroups. These findings support the hypothesis that a dietary pattern characterized by high fiber and low fat intakes is associated with a lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.