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Dietary phytoestrogen intake—lignans and isoflavones—and breast cancer risk (Canada)

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate whether phytoestrogen intake is associated with reduced breast cancer risk, using a novel phytoestrogen database.

Methods

Population-based breast cancer cases aged 25–74 years (diagnosed 2002–2003) were identified using Ontario Cancer Registry (n = 3,063) and controls (n = 3,430) were an age-stratified random sample of women identified through random digit dialing. An epidemiologic and Block food frequency questionnaire—expanded to include phytoestrogen-containing foods—was mailed to all subjects. The recently published Ontario phytoestrogen database was applied to FFQ responses to estimate intake. Multivariate logistic regression provided odds ratio (OR) estimates, while controlling for confounders.

Results

Among all women, lignan intake was associated with a reduced breast cancer risk (Q5 vs. Q1 MVOR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.99); however, following stratification by BMI, this reduction in risk was statistically significant only among overweight (BMI > 25) women. Total phytoestrogen intake was also associated with a risk reduction among overweight women only. Among pre-menopausal women, total phytoestrogen intake was associated with a significant reduction in breast cancer risk among overweight women only (Q5 vs. Q1 MVOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.87). Among post-menopausal women, no statistically significant association was observed between breast cancer risk and isoflavones or lignans.

Conclusion

Lignan intake may be associated with reduced breast cancer risk among pre-menopausal women, and our data suggest BMI modifies this association.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the study coordinator, Noori Chowdhury, and study staff, Leah Palma, Razia Sultana, and Claudia Quammie for their dedication to this study. This research was funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance with special funding support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Ontario Chapter (CBCRA Grant No. 13572).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Preventive Oncology, Cancer Care Ontario, 620 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 2L7

    Michelle Cotterchio, Beatrice A. Boucher, Nancy Kreiger & Catherine A. Mills

  2. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Nancy Kreiger & Lilian U. Thompson

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Michelle Cotterchio & Nancy Kreiger

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  1. Michelle Cotterchio
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  2. Beatrice A. Boucher
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  3. Nancy Kreiger
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  4. Catherine A. Mills
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  5. Lilian U. Thompson
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Correspondence to Michelle Cotterchio.

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Cotterchio, M., Boucher, B.A., Kreiger, N. et al. Dietary phytoestrogen intake—lignans and isoflavones—and breast cancer risk (Canada). Cancer Causes Control 19, 259–272 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9089-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9089-2

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