Anthropometric Indicators of Breast Cancer Risk in Japanese Women in Fukuoka

Abstract

This study was based on a case‐control study of breast cancer risk in Fukuoka, which was initiated to identify risk factors for the disease. We re‐analyzed the data of the study to evaluate the association of breast cancer with anthropometric variables in postmenopausal women. Data were obtained through interviewing 121 cases with historically confirmed breast cancer and an equal number of age‐matched hospital controls as well as neighborhood controls. The variables used for analysis were; height, weight at various ages, shoe size, and brassiere size and body size indices (body surface area and various body build indices) computed from the height and weight data. In a multiple covariance analysis, the results showed that cases were slightly lighter in weight and smaller for some of the indices, but the differences were not statistically significant. The odds ratios, estimated by multiple logistic regression analysis, suggested that the cases were slightly shorter in height and smaller in shoe size without any consistent dose‐response gradients. The effect of changes in weight and body size indices with aging were also assessed, but no significant findings were observed. The results reported here do not support the hypothesis of the positive association between obesity or large body size and breast cancer.

Possible association of β2- and β3-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to breast cancer

“…The allele frequencies for both polymorphisms were similar to those reported in other population-based Japanese studies [17, 21, 25]. The average BMI of the control individuals was 22.3 kg/m 2 , which is consistent with the BMI in other population-based control groups [26]. Furthermore, the genotypes were apparently not reasons for visiting the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital.…”

Central obesity and breast cancer risk: a systematic review

“…Figure 1 shows the flow diagram for the review. Studies were excluded from the review for a variety of reasons: were earlier published results from prospective studies (26–30) ( n = 5); did not contain waist or WHR data (31–33) ( n = 3); did not perform separate analyses of pre‐ and post‐menopausal women (3,34–36) ( n = 4); did not determine odds ratios (37,38) ( n = 2); or we were unable to obtain sufficient data from the author (39) ( n = 1). Six case‐control studies were excluded as waist was measured after commencing breast cancer treatment (40–45) [chemotherapy and endocrine therapy are associated with central fat gains irrespective of increases or decreases in body weight (46)].…”

Adiposity, adult weight change and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal Japanese women: the Miyagi Cohort Study

“…The positive effect of weight gain has been observed in nearly all prospective studies from Western countries ( Ahn et al , 2007 ; Barnes-Josiah et al , 1995 ; Eliassen et al , 2006 ; Feigelson et al , 2004 ; Lahmann et al , 2005 ). On the other hand, the relationship of weight loss to risk has not been fully investigated ( Eliassen et al , 2006 ; Harvie et al , 2005 ; Hirose et al , 1999 ; Kyogoku et al , 1990 ; Lahmann et al , 2005 ). Although most of the studies have observed a null or non-significant association, a few have demonstrated a significantly decreased postmenopausal risk associated with adult weight loss ( Eliassen et al , 2006 ).…”

“…In Japan, however, few prospective studies have evaluated the association with adiposity ( Iwasaki et al , 2007 ; Kuriyama et al , 2005 ). Also, data are sparse regarding the effect of body weight change ( Hirose et al , 1999 ; Kyogoku et al , 1990 ).…”