Link Between Lifestyle Factors and Breast Cancer Risk
Overview of Previous Research
Previous studies have established a connection between various lifestyle factors—such as diet, physical activity, and smoking status—and the risk of developing breast cancer. A recent study published in the Nutrition Journal adds further evidence to this body of research.
Study Details
The researchers focused on Iranian women aged 30 and older to examine how lifestyle factors influence breast cancer risk. The study included 350 participants diagnosed with breast cancer, alongside 700 participants deemed “healthy.” To gather data, the researchers utilized questionnaires that assessed participants’ diet, physical activity, and smoking status. They employed the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) to evaluate the quality of participants’ diets. Each individual was assigned a healthy lifestyle score (HLS) based on their lifestyle choices, categorizing them into either a “higher” or “lower” HLS group.
Key Findings
The findings indicated a significant correlation between the healthy lifestyle score, the Healthy Eating Index, and breast cancer risk. Notably, individuals with higher HLS and HEI scores exhibited a considerably lower likelihood of developing breast cancer. However, this association was not observed among premenopausal women, potentially due to a smaller sample size of this group in the study. Interestingly, the researchers did not find a link between physical activity levels or smoking status and breast cancer risk in their analysis.
Contrasting Previous Research
Earlier studies have generally demonstrated that regular physical activity and non-smoking status correlate with a decreased risk of breast cancer. Additionally, some previous research has failed to show a definitive link between dietary habits and breast cancer risk. The authors of the current study suggest that the use of the HEI-2010 allowed for a more comprehensive dietary assessment, which may have highlighted associations that earlier studies overlooked.
Conclusion
This study enhances the understanding of the potential benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in reducing breast cancer risk, emphasizing the importance of a quality diet.
Reference
Ghosn B, Benisi-Kohansal S, Ebrahimpour-Koujan S. et al. Association between healthy lifestyle score and breast cancer. Nutr J; 19, 4, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-020-0520-9