title: Dietary factors protective against breast cancer in Japanese premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
abstract: Since components of the Japanese diet that might be responsible for the relatively low breast cancer incidence rates observed in Japan have not been clarified in detail, a case-referent study with reference to menopausal status was conducted using data from the hospital-based epidemiologic research program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC). In total, 2,385 breast cancer cases were included, and 19,013 women, confirmed as free of cancer, were recruited as the reference group. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. There were reductions in risk associated with high intake of milk and green-yellow vegetables (green leafy vegetables, carrots and pumpkins) among both pre- and postmenopausal women. The protective effects of the Japanese diet were more prominent among postmenopausal than premenopausal women. The adjusted OR of fish consumption (5 or more times per week vs. fewer than 3 times per month) was 0.75 (95% CI 0.57-0.98, p(trend) = 0.01) for postmenopausal breast cancer. A significant decrease in postmenopausal breast cancer risk was also observed for increasing intake of fruit (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.41-0.91). Thus, traditional Japanese dietary factors may protect against breast cancer development, especially among postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan. khirose@aichi-cc.jp
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takezaki
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamajima
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tajima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012307:Risk Factors