title: Erythrocyte omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and mammographic breast density.
abstract: Diets low in omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and high in omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs may protect against breast cancer development. Associations of PUFA intake with mammographic density, an intermediate marker of breast cancer risk, have been inconsistent; however, prior studies have relied on self-reported dietary PUFA intake. We examined the association between circulating erythrocyte n-6 and n-3 PUFAs with mammographic density in 248 postmenopausal women who were not taking exogenous hormones. PUFAs in erythrocytes were measured by gas-liquid chromatography, and mammographic density was assessed quantitatively by planimetry. Spearman's correlation coefficients and generalized linear models were used to evaluate the relationships between PUFA measures and mammographic density. None of the erythrocyte n-6 or n-3 PUFA measures were associated with percent density or dense breast area.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology, Bureau for Public Health, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Charleston, West Virginia 25301-3715, USA. Alana.L.Hudson@wv.gov
authors.forename: Alana G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Katherine W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: Francesmary
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Modugno
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Rhobert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Victor G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Gretchen L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gierach
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Joel L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weissfeld
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000071060:Breast Density; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000002:abnormalities; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid