Breast cancer: Mediterranean diet may reduce risk by 13%

Evan Walker
Evan Walker TheMediTary.Com |
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Scientists have found a link between breast cancer risk and the Mediterranean diet. FOTOGRAFIA INC./Getty Images
  • The Mediterranean diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts, and seeds, and low in red meat and processed foods, is associated with several health benefits.
  • These include a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and some mental health conditions.
  • Now, a study suggests that following a Mediterranean diet may significantly reduce a person’s risk of breast cancer.
  • The study found that women who followed a Mediterranean diet, particularly those who were postmenopausal, had a 13% reduced risk of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in almost every country in the world. It can occur at any age after puberty, and about 1% of cases are diagnosed in men, but most breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.

Although a person cannot change their age or genetics, they can help to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by:

  • Being physically active
  • Checking with their doctor whether hormone replacement therapies or birth-control pills are right for them
  • Not drinking excessive alcohol
  • Breastfeeding their baby if able
  • Maintaining a healthy weight.

Now, an analysis of 31 studies has found that following a Mediterranean diet may reduce a person’s risk of developing breast cancer by around 13%.

The study is published in Health Science Reports.

Kotryna Temcinaite, PhD, head of research communications and engagement at Breast Cancer Now, who was not involved in the study, commented:

“Studies like this, that observe people over time, can help us find links between certain activities, such as diet, and a certain disease, but they can’t prove if the diet directly impacted the development of the disease. For that we need experimental research that explains if, and more importantly how, a specific diet determines our health.”

“It’s also important to remember that there are many different factors that influence breast cancer risk — including genetics, lifestyle and environment — some of which you can change, but others are out of your control,” she told Medical News Today.

The Mediterranean countries have a lower overall cancer rate than the United States, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavian countries, and studies suggest that this may be due, in part, to diet.

The researchers investigated the effect of the diet on breast cancer risk in pre- and postmenopausal women, and by geographical region.

Overall, the Mediterranean diet reduced breast cancer risk by 13%. The effect was greatest in postmenopausal women and women in Asian regions.

“The findings are fascinating and an area of ongoing interest. It showed a 13% reduction in breast cancer risk with a more protective benefit found in postmenopausal women in Asian populations.”

— Connie Lee, MD, board certified breast surgical oncologist, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA.

The findings of this study reinforce other studies that have associated reduced cancer risk with the Mediterranean diet. But why might it have this effect?

Components of the Mediterranean diet — fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, whole grains, and extra-virgin olive oil —are high in many nutrients that are beneficial to health and may have anticancer properties.

“The Mediterranean diet is known to be rich in agents that function as antioxidants and [are] anti-inflammatory and these can contribute to its anti-cancer effect. It is also known to be an effective way of weight management, and obesity has long been associated with an increased risk for breast cancer.”

— Connie Lee, MD

Although the exact mechanism by which the Mediterranean diet may reduce cancer risk is unknown, studies suggest five possible beneficial effects:

  • lowering lipid levels
  • protecting against oxidative stress, inflammation, and platelet aggregation
  • Modifying hormones and growth factors involved in the pathogenesis of cancer
  • Inhibiting nutrient-sensing pathways by specific amino acid restriction
  • Enhancing gut microbiota-mediated production of metabolites influencing metabolic health.

Any, or all, of these could contribute to the cancer-reducing potential of the diet.

“This study adds to interesting live discussions around how lifestyle factors might influence breast cancer. It shows that women who chose a Mediterranean diet had a reduced chance of getting breast cancer after the menopause. However, it doesn’t provide enough evidence to know if this diet or any specific food type helps to prevent breast cancer.”
— Kotryna Temcinaite, PhD

Megan Winter, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, advised:

“You don’t need to follow a set diet — simply aim to have plenty of fruit and veg, whole grains and healthy sources of protein like chicken, fish and pulses and cut down on processed and red meat, alcohol and foods high in fat, sugar and salt to reduce your cancer risk.”

And she added: “If you are worried about breast cancer in particular, there are proven steps you can take, such as keeping a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol, and stopping smoking.”

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