Dietary flavonoid intake and breast cancer survival among women on Long Island.
BACKGROUND
Laboratory research and a growing number of epidemiologic studies have provided evidence for a reduced risk of breast cancer associated with dietary intake of certain classes of flavonoids. However, the effects of flavonoids on survival are not known. In a population-based cohort of breast cancer patients, we investigated whether dietary flavonoid intake before diagnosis is associated with subsequent survival.


METHODS
Women ages 25 to 98 years who were newly diagnosed with a first primary invasive breast cancer between August 1, 1996, and July 31, 1997, and participated in a population-based, case-control study (n=1,210) were followed for vital status through December 31, 2002. At the case-control interview conducted shortly after diagnosis, respondents completed a FFQ that assessed dietary intake in the previous 12 months. All-cause mortality (n=173 deaths) and breast cancer-specific mortality (n=113 deaths) were determined through the National Death Index.


RESULTS
Reduced hazard ratios [age- and energy-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval)] for all-cause mortality were observed among premenopausal and postmenopausal women for the highest quintile of intake, compared with the lowest, for flavones [0.63 (0.41-0.96)], isoflavones [0.52 (0.33-0.82)], and anthocyanidins [0.64 (0.42-0.98)]. No significant trends in risk were observed. Results were similar for breast cancer-specific mortality only.


CONCLUSIONS
Mortality may be reduced in association with high levels of dietary flavones and isoflavones among postmenopausal U.S. breast cancer patients. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Fink
Brian N
BN
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. brian.fink2@utoledo.edu
Steck
Susan E
SE
Wolff
Mary S
MS
Britton
Julie A
JA
Kabat
Geoffrey C
GC
Gaudet
Mia M
MM
Abrahamson
Page E
PE
Bell
Paula
P
Schroeder
Jane C
JC
Teitelbaum
Susan L
SL
Neugut
Alfred I
AI
Gammon
Marilie D
MD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D005419:Flavonoids