Abstract
Background: Breast cancer incidence is increasing in developing societies. The Mediterranean eating regimen has been suggested to play a preventive role in reducing breast cancer risk.Objective: This study investigated the preventive role of fruits and vegetables, eggs, fish, olives and olive oil and fresh potatoes consumption similar to western Mediterranean diets on breast cancer development in the women of North Cyprus.Methods: This case-control study was carried out in Dr. Burhan Nalbantoglu Devlet Hastanesi, Lefkosa, North Cyprus. The study group were 305 women with confirmed cases of breast cancer and control group were 302 women without breast cancer. Due consent to participate was obtained. Information on dietary intake was collected, which included age, menopausal status, breast density, age at menarche and dietary consumption of fresh potatoes, fruits and vegetables, olives and olive oil, fish and eggs. logistic regression model was used to analyze the link between the dietary intake and breast cancer risk. Results: Consumption of fruits and vegetables, Olives and olive oil 5 or more servings per day and fish 2 servings per week showed an OR=0.09(0.04,0.18), 0.06(0.03,016) and 0.04(0.02,0.10) respectively, with the 3-6 eggs per week and 4 or more servings of fresh potatoes per week OR=0.10(0.54,0.20) and 0.15(0.08,0.28) respectively.Conclusion: The consumption of olives and olive oil 5 or more times, and fish 2 or 1 times weekly played a more significant role in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women. Investigating at a larger scale in the study population is yet to be done.
The role of diet in the development of breast cancer: a case-control study of patients with breast cancer, benign epithelial hyperplasia and fibrocystic disease of the breast
