Diet and breast cancer.
The preponderance of evidence suggests a role for fat and alcohol as risk factors for breast cancer. The role of milk is more controversial with some studies suggesting that milk is a risk factor and others that consumption of milk is protective against breast cancer. No other major nutrient appears to play a significant role in increasing breast cancer risk. On the other hand, there is increasing evidence that a variety of micronutrients and hormones appear to have significant anticancer activity. These range from steroids such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its analysis to indoles, isothiocyanates, and isoflavone derivatives. These compounds act directly by interfering with cyclins and promoting apoptosis as well as indirectly by altering estrogen metabolism in a favorable direction. These effects are not merely theoretical actions in cell culture and tissue explants; they have been demonstrated in human patients as a range of studies have demonstrated.
Bradlow
H Leon
HL
David and Alice Jurist Institute for Research, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601, USA. leon@bradlow.net
Sepkovic
Daniel W
DW
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002417:Cattle; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077222:Limonene; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D013729:Terpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D007211:Indoles; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D013729:Terpenes; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D002392:Catechin; D000077222:Limonene; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D019833:Genistein