Large study shows low-fat
diet has little effect on reducing
risk of breast cancer
February 08, 2006
Laptop Battery A major study that includes nearly 50,000 women followed over 8
years indicates that a
diet low in fat, but high in
fruit, vegetables and grains, does not significantly reduce the
risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, according to an
article in the February 8 issue of JAMA.
Bad Breath, Healthy Prostate By Darin Ingels, ND Healthnotes Newswire (December 19, 2002) Men who eat garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, scallions, and chives (vegetables of the Allium family) as a regular part of their diets may reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer, according to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2002; 1648 51). While consuming these foods has been associated with a reduction in the incidence of stomach, colon, esophagus, and breast cancers, this is the first study to show that eating these vegetables may also lower prostate cancer risk.
Thinkpad Ross L. Prentice, Ph.D., of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center, Seattle, and colleagues with the Women's
Health Initiative (WHI) Dietary
Modification Trial, examined the effect of a low-fat diet on the
incidence of breast cancer. The WHI, which began in 1992 with
48,835 postmenopausal women without prior breast cancer,
included a dietary modification intervention consisting of
consumption of a reduced amount of fat (20 percent of energy)
and of an increased amount of vegetables and fruits (5 or more
servings a day) and grains (6 or more servings a day). The
women, aged 50 to 79 years, were randomly assigned to the
dietary modification intervention group (40 percent, n = 19,541)
or the comparison group, who were not asked to make dietary
modifications (60 percent, n = 29,294). It has been hypothesized
that a low-fat diet can reduce breast cancer risk, but previous
studies have had mixed results.
While dietary fat, especially saturated fat, may play a role in breast cancer, fat diet also causes weight loss. Studies repeatedly link being overweight with a greater risk of postmenopausal breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence. In the Nurses’ Health Study, large weight gains after a diagnosis of breast cancer correlated with a 64 percent greater risk of recurrence; smaller weight gains led to smaller increases in risk.
Microsoft The average follow-up time was 8.1 years. Overall, 655 (3.35
percent) women in the intervention group and 1,072 (3.66 percent)
women in the comparison group developed invasive breast cancer
during follow-up.
Some studies did show some benefit. One study suggested that dietary changes might help reduce the risk for breast cancer recurrence. And two studies that focused on increased calcium intake each pointed to a reduced risk of recurrence of colorectal polyps, which can lead to colon cancer.
Laptop Computers "Among postmenopausal women, a low-fat dietary pattern did not
result in a statistically significant reduction in invasive breast
cancer risk over an 8.1 year average follow-up period. However, the
nonsignificant trends observed suggesting reduced risk associated
with a low-fat dietary pattern indicate that longer, planned,
nonintervention follow-up may yield a more definitive comparison,"
the authors conclude.
(AXcess News) A recent study shows that obese women are more at risk to breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, postmenopausal women who gain more than 60 pounds during their adult years are three times as likely to be diagnosed with the most deadly forms of breast cancer as women who gain 20 pounds or less. The study shows that women who gain weight after the age of 18 were found to have a significant risk for contracing all types of breast cancer from being overweight.
Laptop Computer JAMA and Archives Journals
Researchers use animal models to determine how certain compounds affect breast cell development. They study common compounds found in products such as PVC piping, plastic wrapping and canned foods. Until new findings are published, woman may choose to stick to a diet high in soy which may help protect against breast cancer. Studies show that the risk of breast cancer is six times higher for American women than for women who live in Asian countries where soy foods are commonly eaten.
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