Dietary patterns and breast cancer risk among women in northern Tanzania: a case-control study.
Jordan I., Hebestreit A., Swai B., Krawinkel M. B.
Author Affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Wilhelmstr. 20, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
European Journal of Nutrition 52 : 905-915
Abstract : 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). Conclusion: A diet characterized by a low P/S ratio seems to be more important for the development of breast cancer than total fat intake.