title: Relations of omega-3 and omega-6 intake with mammographic breast density.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Omega-3 (n-3) and n-6 fatty acids (FA) intake could influence the occurrence of certain diseases such as breast cancer but little is known about their relation to mammographic density (MD). The purpose of this study is to examine the association of the intake of n-3 FA and n-6 FA with MD among 777 premenopausal and 783 postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, FA intake was assessed with a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire and MD was measured using a computer-assisted method. Multivariate analyses were performed by using generalized linear models to evaluate the associations of quartiles of FA intake with MD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For increasing quartiles of total long-chain n-3 FA intake (< 0.11, 0.11-0.20, 0.21-0.32, and ≥ 0.33 g/day), adjusted mean MD was 29, 29, 27, and 25 %, respectively (P trend = 0.005). This association remained significant among postmenopausal (P trend = 0.006) but not among premenopausal (P trend = 0.21) women. No significant association was found between n-6 FA intake and MD. However, for increasing quartiles of the n-6 FA/long-chain n-3 FA ratio intake (< 31.75, 31.75-52.28, 52.29-94.28, and ≥ 94.29), adjusted mean MD was 26, 27, 29, and 29 %, respectively (P trend = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher intake of long-chain n-3 FA was associated with lower MD, suggesting that increased long-chain n-3 FA intake could be a strategy for breast cancer prevention.
authors.affiliation: Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, QC, G1S 4L8, Canada, cdiorio@uresp.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diorio
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dumas
mesh_terms: D000071060:Breast Density; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6