Monounsaturated and other types of fat, and the risk of breast cancer

We considered the role of monounsaturated and other types of fats on breast carcinogenesis, using data from a case-control study of 2,569 incident, hi stologically confirmed cases of breast cancer and 2,588 controls from sh It alian areas. The multivariate odds ratios, adjusted for age, education, par ity, menopausal status plus various sources of energy and types of fats, we re 1.10 (95% confidence interval 0.99-1.23) for an increase of 10 g/day of saturated fat intake, 0.99 (0.94-1.04) for an increase of 10 g/day of monou nsaturated fats, and 0.91 (0.87-0.96) for an increase of 5 g/day of polyuns aturated fats. The present data confirm that saturated, but not mono- or po lyun-saturated fats, are directly, though moderately, related to breast can cer risk. (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.