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Consumption of dairy and meat in relation to breast cancer risk in the Black Women’s Health Study

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Abstract

Purpose

Dairy and meat consumption may impact breast cancer risk through modification of hormones (e.g., estrogen), through specific nutrients (e.g., vitamin D), or through products formed in processing/cooking (e.g., heterocyclic amines). Results relating meat and dairy intake to breast cancer risk have been conflicting. Thus, we examined the risk of breast cancer in relation to intake of dairy and meat in a large prospective cohort study.

Methods

In the Black Women’s Health Study, 1,268 incident breast cancer cases were identified among 52,062 women during 12 years of follow-up. Multivariable (MV) relative risks (RRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Null associations were observed for total milk (MV RR = 1.05, 95 % CI 0.74–1.46 comparing ≥1,000–0 g/week) and total meat (MV RR = 1.04, 95 % CI 0.85–1.28 comparing ≥1,000 < 400 g/week) intake and risk of breast cancer. Associations with intakes of specific types of dairy, specific types of meat, and dietary calcium and vitamin D were also null. The associations were not modified by reproductive (e.g., parity) or lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking). Associations with estrogen receptor (ER) positive (+), ER negative (−), progesterone receptor (PR) +, PR−, ER+/PR+, and ER−/PR− breast cancer were generally null.

Conclusions

This analysis of African-American women provides little support for associations of dairy and meat intake with breast cancer risk.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the continuing dedication of the Black Women’s Health Study participants and staff. Data on breast cancer pathology were obtained from several state cancer registries (AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, and VA), and results reported do not necessarily represent their views. This study was supported by National Cancer Institute Grant R01 CA058420. The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Jeanine M. Genkinger.

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Genkinger, J.M., Makambi, K.H., Palmer, J.R. et al. Consumption of dairy and meat in relation to breast cancer risk in the Black Women’s Health Study. Cancer Causes Control 24, 675–684 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-013-0146-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-013-0146-8

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