The Influence of Diet on Human Breast Parenchymal Densities

192 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2004.Breast cancer is a major public health problem and a leading cause of cancer-related death among American women. Environmental factors, which include diet and nutrition, have been shown to contribute to the increased rates of cancer of the breast as well as other organ systems. The present project was undertaken in order to gain additional insights into the relationship between specific aspects of the diet and density of breast parenchyma. From the study population in Chicago, Illinois, data on breast density, food intake, select serum hormones and blood lipid levels were obtained and evaluated for relationships with mammographic densities. Evidence among Caucasian women, intakes of select vegetables, especially those containing lutein, folate and cryptoxanthin, were associated with decreased prevalence of mammographic densities considered to be risk factors for breast cancer. No significant effects on breast densities were observed due to intakes of energy, fiber, or fat. In contrast, alcohol intake among Caucasian women was directly related to breast density. These findings, although preliminary, provide additional evidence that the prevalence of breast parenchymal densities differ according to intake of specific dietary factors and patterns, which in part may contribute to providing a biological explanation for the variation of breast cancer risk with diet.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD