title: The role of dietary factors in prevention and progression of breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breast cancer (BC) is the leading global cause of cancer-related death in women. There is growing evidence for a role for dietary factors in BC pathophysiology. The aim of the present review was to evaluate the impact of dietary factors in BC risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bibliographical searches were performed in PubMed, using the following terms: "nutrition and breast cancer", "nutrition and breast carcinoma", "dietary factors and breast cancer", "risk factors and breast cancer", "diet and breast cancer, "breast cancer epidemiology", "breast cancer and prevention".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consumption of well-done red meat appears to be associated with increased risk of BC, whereas fish may be protective. Total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and glycaemic load should be monitored and controlled in at risk populations because they may be associated with increased risk of BC, although the exact mechanisms involved are not clear. Alcohol intake should be minimized since it is a risk factor for BC. High intake of polyphenol/phyto-oestrogen -rich food (i.e. flavonoids, soya products), as well as fibres, fruits and vegetables, may have potential protective effects against BC occurrence but the results might vary according to hormonal status. Vitamin D supplements appear protective against BC development and similarly other vitamins and oligo-elements might decrease BC risk, although further large prospective studies are required.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There exist increasing evidence that dietary factors can play an important role in both the development and prevention of BC. Large randomized clinical and epidemiological studies are required but are difficult to design due to the number of variable factors.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gastroenterology, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K. Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta Elisa
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gastroenterology, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Marinos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pericleous
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gastroenterology, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K. Cancer Institute, University College London, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Dalvinder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandair
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Whyand
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gastroenterology, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K. m.caplin@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Martyn Evan
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Caplin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
keywords: Breast cancer; carcinogenesis; diet; nutrition; prevention review