Dietary patterns and breast cancer risk among women in northern Tanzania: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. It was tested within a case-control study in this region whether a specific dietary pattern impacts on the breast cancer risk.


METHODS
A validated semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to assess the dietary intake of 115 female breast cancer patients and 230 healthy age-matched women living in the same districts. A logistic regression was performed to estimate breast cancer risk. Dietary patterns were obtained using principal component analysis with Varimax rotation.


RESULTS
The adjusted logistic regression estimated an increased risk for a "Fatty Diet", characterized by a higher consumption of milk, vegetable oils and fats, butter, lard and red meat (OR = 1.42, 95 % CI 1.08-1.87; P = 0.01), and for a "Fruity Diet", characterized by a higher consumption of fish, mango, papaya, avocado and watery fruits (OR = 1.61, 95 % CI 1.14-2.28; P = 0.01). Both diets showed an inverse association with the ratio between polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids (P/S ratio).


CONCLUSIONS
A diet characterized by a low P/S ratio seems to be more important for the development of breast cancer than total fat intake.
Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Wilhelmstr. 20, 35392, Giessen, Germany. Irmgard.Jordan@ernaehrung.uni-giessen.de
Irmgard
I
Jordan
Antje
A
Hebestreit
Britta
B
Swai
Michael B
MB
Krawinkel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated