FIBERS AND BREAST-CANCER RISK

Data from a multicenter case-control study on breast cancer conducted in Italy were used to analyze the relationship between various types o f fibers and breast cancer risk. Cases were 2,569 women with histologi cally confirmed incident breast cancer; controls were 2,588 women admi tted to the same network of hospitals for acute, nonneoplastic, non-ho rmone-related diseases. Cases and controls were interviewed between 19 91 and 1994 using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The data w ere modeled through multiple logistic regression, controlling for demo graphic and reproductive breast cancer risk factors. The continuous od ds ratios for the difference between the upper cut point of the fourth and the first quintile of intake were 0.90 [95% confidence interval = 0.82-0.98, p (for trend) < 0.05] for cellulose and 0.94 (95% confiden ce interval = 0.86-1.02) for soluble fibers. The protection tended to be stronger in premenopausal women. No material association was found for noncellulose polysaccharides and lignin This study, based on a lar ge data set from various Italian regions, suggests that fiber intake m ay confer some protection against breast cancer, particularly for cell ulose and also for soluble fibers, i.e., those of vegetable origin. Th is possible protection has been related to an influence of fibers on l evels and availability of estrogens and other steroid hormones in brea st carcinogenesis.