Erythrocyte fatty acids and risk of proliferative and nonproliferative fibrocystic disease in women in Shanghai, China.
BACKGROUND
Although benign breast changes are more common than breast cancer, little evidence regarding risk factors for benign breast conditions is available. Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids have antiinflammatory and antiproliferative actions and may be important in reducing the risk of benign conditions. There is a lack of research on the association of n-3 fatty acids with risk of benign fibrocystic breast changes.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the role of n-3 and other fatty acids in the development of benign proliferative fibrocystic conditions (PFCs) and nonproliferative fibrocystic conditions (NPFCs) in the breast and to evaluate the progression of fibrocystic changes in breast cancer.


METHODS
We conducted a case-control study to determine erythrocyte fatty acid concentrations in 155 women with NPFCs, 185 women with PFCs, 241 women with breast cancer (127 with nonproliferative and 114 with proliferative changes in the noncancerous extratumoral mammary epithelium), and 1,030 control subjects. We estimated the relative risk of NPFCs, PFCs, and breast cancer with proliferative and nonproliferative changes in extratumoral tissue compared with the risk of these changes alone.


RESULTS
Women in the highest quartile of eicosapentaenoic acid concentrations were 67% less likely to have an NPFC alone or with breast cancer and 49% less likely to have breast cancer than were women with PFCs. gamma-Linolenic acid (18:3n-6) was positively associated with all fibrocystic and cancerous conditions. Palmitic:palmitoleic acid (n-7 saturation index) was inversely associated with risk in all comparisons.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support a protective effects of n-3 fatty acid intake and the n-7 saturation index against benign fibrocystic breast changes and the progression of proliferative changes to breast cancer.
Shannon
Jackilen
J
Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA. shannoja@ohsu.edu
King
Irena B
IB
Lampe
Johanna W
JW
Gao
Dao Li
DL
Ray
Roberta M
RM
Lin
Ming-Gang
MG
Stalsberg
Helge
H
Thomas
David B
DB
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3