Estradiol binding to plasma proteins after changing to a low-fat diet

Breast cancer development is believed to be associated with both dietary fat consumption and the proportion of biologically available estradiol in the serum. A study was undertaken to determine if a reduction in fat consumption would influence the binding, and thus the bioavailability, of estradiol. Groups of pre- and postmenopausal women were randomized to begin either a standard western diet (40% energy from fat) or a low-fat diet (20% energy from fat). After two months, each woman changed over to the alternate diet. Blood samples were taken at the end of each dietary period. Change of diet made no significant difference to the proportions of nonprotein-bound (free), albumin-bound, or sex hormone binding globulin-bound estradiol in this study. However, the number of women studied and the duration of change were relatively small.