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Drinking green tea modestly reduces breast cancer risk
Martha J Shrubsole1, Wei Lu, Zhi Chen
1Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
The Journal of Nutrition
|December 17, 2008
Summary
Regular green tea consumption may slightly decrease breast cancer risk. This association was stronger in premenopausal women, with risk decreasing based on years of drinking and quantity consumed. Genetic factors did not alter this effect.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Pharmacogenetics
Background:
- Green tea consumption is widespread, particularly in China.
- Epidemiological and animal studies suggest tea polyphenols may offer protection against various cancers, including breast cancer.
- The enzyme Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) metabolizes both catechol estrogens and tea polyphenols, with genetic variations like the COMT rs4680 AA genotype potentially influencing cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between regular green tea consumption and breast cancer risk.
- To explore potential modifying effects of the COMT rs4680 genotype on this association.
- To examine dose-response relationships and effects in premenopausal women.
Main Methods:
- A population-based case-control study was conducted in Shanghai, China (1996-2005) with 3454 breast cancer cases and 3474 controls (aged 20-74).
- Participants were interviewed regarding green tea consumption habits (initiation age, duration, brew strength, quantity).
- Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, adjusting for potential confounders. COMT rs4680 genotyping was performed.
Main Results:
- Regular green tea consumption showed a slight, statistically significant association with decreased breast cancer risk (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.98) compared to non-drinkers.
- Among premenopausal women, increased years of green tea drinking (P-trend = 0.02) and higher monthly tea consumption (P-trend = 0.046) were associated with reduced risk.
- The COMT rs4680 genotype did not significantly modify the relationship between green tea intake and breast cancer risk.
Conclusions:
- Green tea consumption may be weakly associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer.
- The protective association appears more pronounced in premenopausal women, suggesting a potential dose-response effect.
- Genetic variations in COMT rs4680 do not appear to influence the observed association.
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