title: Raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, selected micronutrients, and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Germany.
abstract: In 1998-2000, a case-control study of breast cancer was conducted in Heidelberg, Germany. Three hundred ten consecutively recruited cases with primary breast cancer were matched according to 10-yr age groups to 353 controls with conditions unrelated to diet or endocrine disorders. Intake of raw vegetables, total vegetables, and whole-grain products was inversely associated with breast cancer risk (highest vs. lowest quartile adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.84; OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.38-1.02; and OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.34-0.95, respectively). Also, high intake of some selected vitamins and minerals possessing putative DNA-stabilizing properties displayed significant inverse risk associations. Adjusted ORs were as follows: vitamin C (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.2-0.88), folate equivalents (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.25-0.88), b-carotene (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.27-0.80), zinc (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.15-0.78), and copper (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.31-1.03). In contrast, no significant association with risk was seen for an increased intake of fruits, cooked vegetables, fiber, calcium, manganese, or iron. In this population of German women, components of raw vegetables and some micronutrients appear to decrease breast cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Germany. karl-heinrich_adzersen@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Karl-Heinrich
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Adzersen
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jess
authors.forename: Klaus Wilhelm
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Freivogel
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gerhard
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bastert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004355:Drug Stability; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005638:Fruit; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D018977:Micronutrients; D019207:beta Carotene; D003300:Copper; D004247:DNA; D005492:Folic Acid; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid