Method of cooking and risk of breast cancer in the Philippines.
OBJECTIVE
Among Asian countries, the highest age-standardized rates of breast cancer have been reported for the Philippines. The influence of diet and lifestyle factors as possible contributors to these high rates has not been well-studied. We conducted a case-control study in Manila to examine the association between methods of cooking and the risk of breast cancer.


METHODS
Eligible subjects were women undergoing evaluation at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Manila for a breast problem. All of the women completed a risk factor questionnaire prior to the determination of their case (n = 240) or control (n = 240) status. Information regarding current, as well as usual method of cooking in the household at 12 years of age was obtained.


RESULTS
Boiling food in coconut milk was associated with a significantly increased risk of breast cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-3.8). There were positive associations between boiling food in coconut milk and the risk of breast cancer currently (OR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.0-3.3), and at 12 years of age (OR = 2.9; 95% CI 1.6-5.5). A positive association between frying food and breast cancer risk was restricted to women whose household fried food at 12 years of age (OR = 1.89; 95% CI 1.1-3.4).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that various cooking methods during adolescence and possibly in adulthood may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. These findings require confirmation.
Centre for Research in Women's Health, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. steven.narod@swchsc.on.ca
Joanne
J
Kotsopoulos
Alexander
A
Liede
Maria Lourdes Leon
ML
De Matsuda
Ping
P
Sun
Steven A
SA
Narod
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003059:Cocos / Q000009:adverse effects; D003296:Cooking; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010679:Philippines; D012307:Risk Factors; D016387:Women's Health