title: Erythrocyte fatty acids and risk of proliferative and nonproliferative fibrocystic disease in women in Shanghai, China.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA. shannoja@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Jackilen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: Irena B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Johanna W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: Dao Li
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Roberta M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Ming-Gang
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stalsberg
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3