September 23, 2008 – Some foods may help reduce the risk of breast cancer, while others worsen them, even in women who are genetically predisposed to it, find researchers at the Université de Montréal1.
Breast cancer and heredity |
Vishnee Bissonauth, a doctoral student in the Department of Nutrition, is one of the study’s authors. She identified 24 epidemiological studies dealing with the relationship between breast cancer and different food groups, published between 1997 and 2007. Although several studies arrive at opposite results, the researcher arrives at the following conclusions:
- Fruits and vegetables are said to have a stronger preventive effect in women with genetic mutations.
- Phytoestrogens, contained in foods made from soy or flax seeds, reduce the risk of breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women.
- The protective effect of low-fat dairy products is thought to be attributable to their vitamin D content.
- Red meats would increase the risk of breast cancer, especially if grilled rather than boiled, and even more so in women with genetic abnormalities.
- Fish are said to have a beneficial protective effect against breast cancer. The effect varies depending on the species and how it is cooked, with the exception of fish contaminated with heavy metals or pesticides.
- Beyond the food itself, the total amount of calories ingested per day could accelerate the onset of breast cancer. Several studies show that those who consume more than 2,000 calories per day, whether or not they are carriers of genetic mutations, are at greater risk of developing breast cancer.
Vishnee Bissonauth recalls that a food alone cannot cause, prevent or worsen breast cancer. “For example, eating grilled meat on the barbecue for a whole summer does not immediately lead to cancer formation. Breast cancer is a latent disease that sometimes takes up to ten years to appear. “
Screening: every two years |
Emmanuelle Bergeron – PasseportSanté.net
1. Bissonauth V, Shatenstein B et al. Nutrition and breast cancer among sporadic cases and gene mutation carriers: an overview, Cancer Detect Prev. 2008; 32 (1): 52-64.