Nutrition and lifestyle factors on the risk of developing breast cancer

Aspects of nutrition and lifestyle may be largely responsible for the development of common cancers in Western countries, as indicated by the large differences in breast cancer rates between countries, the striking changes in these rates among migrating populations, and the rapid changes over time within countries. The better informed and increasingly health-conscious population of the present day are intensively seeking to identify and eliminate these putative carcinogenic risk factors and to exploit the preventive effects that have been attributed to certain dietary components. Nutrition and 'lifestyle' may exert its carcinogenic effects indirectly by cell stimulations (alcohol, hormone therapy in postmenopause), inhibition of DNA-repair mechanisms (lack of vitamins), effecting estrogen metabolism (phytoestrogenes), or as promotors to enhance growth of tumours (body mass index). Some 'substances' may act as a carcinogenic itself, for example, aromatic hydrocarbons in tobacco or increased polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in well done meat. Individual differences in the effects of nutritional factors on mammary epithelia could be caused by genetic polymorphisms. In this critical review, we focus on current data regarding the effect of nutrition and lifestyle, on the risk of developing breast cancer. A health lifestyle, consisting of 'healthy diet', physical activity, renunciation of stimulants, is recommended from childhood throughout life.