Starch-rich diet increases risk for breast cancer

A new study finds that people who eat a diet rich in starches such as bread, pasta, potatoes face an increased risk for breast cancer.

They also found, however, that diets high in animal products, unsaturated fats, and vitamins and fibre reduced the risk for breast cancer.

The study conducted at the Universita Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy, investigated the dietary patterns of 2569 women with breast cancer and 3413 controls of a similar age from four Italian areas between 1991 and 1999. Dietary habits were investigated through a validated food-frequency questionnaire.

The researchers categorized the women's diets into four patterns -

• animal products, which had the highest values for protein and animal fat, calcium, cholesterol, saturated fatty acids, riboflavin, zinc, and phosphorus.
• vitamins and fiber, which had the highest values for vitamin C and total fiber, folate, potassium, beta-carotene, and vitamin B6.
• unsaturated fats, which contained the highest values for vegetable fat, vitamin E, and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• starch-rich, which was was characterized by the highest values for starch, vegetable protein, and sodium

This method, the researchers say, gives a more comprehensive estimate of cancer risk than methods based on single foods, as nutrients may interact to decrease or increase cancer risk.

• animal products reduced risk by 26%
• unsaturated fats rteduced the risk by 17%
• vitamins and fiber reduced the risk by 13%

In contrast, individuals who most closely matched a starch-rich diet had a 34% increased risk for developing breast cancer compared with the others.

This study, published online ahead of print in the International Journal of Cancer confirms other previous findings of a link between starch intake and breast cancer at reference 45

Last updated 10 September 2007