The link between socioeconomic status and breast cancer--a possible explanation

The aim of this ecological study was to explore possible associations between childhood nutrition and breast cancer. The study compared heights and weights of children of different socioeconomic status and subsequent breast cancer risk in Queensland, Australia. In 1950 12-year-old girls from families of high socioeconomic status were 3 cm taller and 6.6 kg heavier than girls of the same age of lower socioeconomic status. Approximately 35 years later, age standardized mortality rates for breast cancer among all Queensland women were approximately 10% higher for women of high compared with low socioeconomic status. Taking into account the limitations of ecological studies and risk factors other than nutrition, these results are compatible with the hypothesis that there is an association between childhood nutritional experiences and subsequent risk of breast cancer.