Intake of specific fruits and vegetables in relation to risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer among postmenopausal women

Abstract

In previous studies of postmenopausal women, overall intake of fruits and vegetables groups has been inversely associated with estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer. In this analysis, we prospectively examined the associations of specific fruits and vegetables with risk of ER- postmenopausal breast cancer among 75,929 women aged 38-63 years at baseline and followed for up to 24 years. Dietary data were collected seven times during this period. Cox proportional hazard models were used, adjusting for potential confounders, including a modified Alternate Mediterranean Diet score. We ascertained 792 incident cases of ER- postmenopausal breast cancer. The multivariate relative risk (RR) for every 2 servings/week consumption for total berries was 0.82 (95 % CI = 0.71-0.96, p = 0.01), and the RR for women who consumed at least one serving of blueberries a week was 0.69 (95 % CI = 0.50-0.95, p = 0.02) compared with non-consumers. Also, the RR for consuming at least 2 servings of peaches/nectarines per week was 0.59 (95 % CI = 0.37-0.93, p = 0.02). Risk of ER- breast cancer was not associated with intakes of other specific fruits or vegetables. In conclusion, higher intake of berries and peaches was associated with lower risk of ER- breast cancer among postmenopausal women. These results are considered exploratory and need to be confirmed in further studies. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.