NUTRITIONAL RISK-FACTORS AND BREAST-CANCER IN JEWISH AND ARAB WOMEN

Based on a lower reported incidence o breast cancer in the Arab popula tion in Israel, nutritional levels were evaluated in a case-control st udy of 33 Jewish and 10 Arab patients with breast cancer all matched w ith a first-degree family-related control Demographic, gynecologic, ob stetric, anthropometric, genetically tumor-related, and nutritional da ta were ascertained through interviews, tests, and questionnaires. Foo d consumption, calories, protein, fat, and fiber intake, and anthropom orphic measures were calculated. The following results were obtained: 1. Calories of food consumption were significantly higher in Jewish an d Arab patients than in their controls. 2. Jewish patients consumed si gnificantly higher levels of monounsaturated fat; Arab patients consum ed significantly higher levels of dietary fiber. 3. Animal protein int ake was elevated in patients of both ethnic origins as compared with c ontrols. 4. Vegetable fat and monounsaturated fatty acids were elevate d in Arab patients as compared with Jewish patients. 5. Body weight of both Arab and Jewish patients was not significantly higher when compa red with their controls. 6. Energy consumption and obesity were higher in breast cancer patients than in the controls. This supporting evide nce suggests an association between obesity and breast cancer occurren ce.