Dietary and lifestyle determinants of mammographic breast density. A longitudinal study in a Mediterranean population

Abstract

High mammographic breast density (H‐MBD) has been associated with increased breast cancer (BC) risk, even after adjustment for established BC risk factors. Only a few studies have examined the influence of diet on MBD. In a longitudinal study in Florence, Italy, we identified about 2,000 women with a mammogram taken 5 years after enrollment, when detailed information on dietary and lifestyle habits and anthropometric measurements had been collected. Original mammograms have been identified and retrieved (1,668; 83%), and MBD was assessed by 2 experienced readers, according to Wolfe's classification and a semiquantitative scale. By logistic analysis, we compared women with H‐MBD (P2 + DY according to Wolfe's classification) with those with low‐MBD (N1 + P1). H‐MBD was confirmed to be inversely associated with BMI, number of children and breast feeding, while it was directly associated with higher educational level, premenopausal status and a previous breast biopsy. In multivariate analyses adjusted for nondietary variables, H‐MBD was inversely associated with increasing consumption of vegetables (p for trend = 0.005) and olive oil (p for trend = 0.04). An inverse association was also evident between H‐MBD and frequent consumption of cheese and high intakes of β‐carotene, vitamin C, calcium and potassium (p for trend ≤ 0.05). On the other hand, we found a positive association with increasing consumption of wine (p for trend = 0.01). This large longitudinal study, the first carried out in Mediterranean women, suggests that specific dietary components may play a key role in determining MBD in this population, thus possibly modulating BC risk. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Dietary patterns and breast density in the Minnesota Breast Cancer Family Study

“…Among food-based analyses conducted in other populations, one study reported a positive association between meat intake and breast density [32]. Another [33] reported an inverse association between vegetable intake and breast density, but two others did not [32,34]. In nutrient-based analyses, several studies reported positive associations for total and saturated fat, protein, and alcohol intake [32,33,[35][36][37][38], and inverse associations for intake of fiber, carotenoids, calcium, and vitamin D [33,35,[39][40][41][42].…”

“…Another [33] reported an inverse association between vegetable intake and breast density, but two others did not [32,34]. In nutrient-based analyses, several studies reported positive associations for total and saturated fat, protein, and alcohol intake [32,33,[35][36][37][38], and inverse associations for intake of fiber, carotenoids, calcium, and vitamin D [33,35,[39][40][41][42]. The generally inconsistent evidence for an association between diet and mammographic density in previous studies leaves open the possibility that mammographic density may not mediate dietary effects, if any, on breast cancer.…”

Mammographic density among indigenous women in forested areas in the state of Amapá, Brazil: a cross-sectional study

“…34 Currently, the relationship between breastfeeding and mammographic density is a matter of controversy, given that both positive and inverse associations have been found. 32,[35][36][37] The women in our study nursed for a long period (mean of 12.9 years), and their breasts were predominantly non-dense, but despite this, breastfeeding was not significantly associated with mammographic density.…”

Breast composition: Measurement and clinical use

“…Randomized control trials demonstrated changes in breast density with intake of low-fat high carbohydrate diet. 70,71 Cross-sectional studies have shown calcium and vitamin D, [72][73][74][75][76] and vegetables 75,77 to be associated with lower breast density.…”

“…It is also increasingly important that screened women with dense breasts are advised to avoid lifestyles such as alcohol intake and exogenous hormone use that have been shown to increase cancer risk in women with dense breast. Also, consumption of food species associated with lower breast density 22,72,75,77 and physical activity 78 is encouraged as these may mitigate their risk of developing breast cancer.…”