You don't want to be one of the 200,000 women who will develop breast cancer in 2011, according to the National Cancer Institute. What changes can you make to your diet to reduce this risk? Reports by the American Institute for Cancer Research and National Cancer Institute suggest you maintain a proper body mass to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer after you reach menopause. The relationship between fat intake and breast cancer is less clear.
American Institute for Cancer Research Report
An expert panel reviewed more than 140 studies that investigated body fatness and breast cancer risk. Inconsistent data encouraged the panel to stratify the studies by stage of life when women developed the cancer. Increased adiposity decreased risk in women who developed breast cancer before menopause. In contrast, increased adiposity increased the risk of developing postmenopausal breast cancer. Further review of the literature suggests that body fatness directly affects circulating hormones, such as estrogen. Postmenopausal breast cancer differs from premenopausal breast cancer because estrogen levels dramatically decline after menopause. The experts concluded that body fatness affects hormone levels, which modify your risk of breast cancer. You are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer after menopause. Therefore, the American Institute for Cancer Research advises that you maintain a healthy weight to reduce your risk of breast cancer.
American Cancer Society Guideline Review
A review of the literature by the American Cancer Society suggests that you should maintain a healthy weight to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. Kushi and colleagues stated that losing weight reduces your risk of breast cancer and adult weight gain increases your risk. Both the American Cancer Society and the American Institute for Cancer Research encourage moderate to intense exercise to reduce your breast cancer risk. Exercise may reduce risk of breast cancer, in part, by maintaining a healthy body weight states Kushi and colleagues. Review of the literature found one study demonstrating a lower fat diet reduced breast cancer risk. Researchers observed a slightly reduced risk of cancer when women consumed only 29 percent of their total calories from fat.
University of Washington Review
Anne McTiernan reviewed literature relating to lifestyle modifications and cancer risk. She found that a diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables decreased estrogen, which positively alters breast cancer risk. The review also found that intake of saturated fats increased the development of tumors in animals. Whether this holds true in human studies is unknown. Furthermore, studies need to identify whether total caloric intake or specifically fat intake increases breast cancer incidence, states McTiernan.
Women's Health Initiative
An eight year, randomized, controlled study assessed the effects of a low-fat diet on primary breast cancer incidence. More than 50,000 women participated in this study which required some women to reduce fat intake and increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and grains. The dietary modification did not significantly alter breast cancer risk in this population of women. Trends suggest that a longer dietary modification may have a positive effect. This study continues to investigate a longer-term low-fat diet on breast cancer incidence.
References
- "Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective"; American Institute for Cancer Research; 2007
- "The Oncologist"; Behavioral Risk Factors in Breast Cancer: Can Risk be Modified?; A.McTiernan; May 2003
- "CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians"; American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention: Reducing the Risk of Cancer With Healthy Food Choices and Physical Activity; LH Kushi, T Byers, C Doyle, et al.; Sept. 2006
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Low-Fat Dietary Pattern and Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer: The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial; RL Prentice, B Caan, RT Chlebowski, et al.; Feb. 2006
