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Published on: October 16, 2010
Association Between Western and Mediterranean Dietary Patterns and Mammographic Density
Adela Castelló1, Nieves Ascunce, Dolores Salas-Trejo
1Cancer Epidemiology Unit, National Center for Epidemiology, and the Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, the Cancer Epidemiology Research Group, Oncology and Hematology Area, IIS Puerta de Hierro (IDIPHIM), Madrid, the Navarre Breast Cancer Screening Program, Public Health Institute, Pamplona, the Valencian Breast Cancer Screening Program, General Directorate of Public Health, Valencia, the Cancer Prevention and Control Unit, Catalonian Institute of Oncology (ICO), Barcelona, the Balearic Islands Breast Cancer Screening Program, Directorate General of Public Health and Participation, Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, the Galician Breast Cancer Screening Program, Galician Regional Health Authority, A Coruña, the Castile-León Breast Cancer Screening Program, General Directorate of Public Health, Burgos, the Aragón Breast Cancer Screening Program, Aragon Health Service, Zaragoza, and Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Sant Joan D'Alacant, Spain.
Objective:
To examine the association between two dietary patterns (Western and Mediterranean), previously linked to breast cancer risk, and mammographic density.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 3,584 women attending population-based breast cancer screening programs and recruited between October 7, 2007, and July 14, 2008 (participation rate 74.5%). Collected data included anthropometric measurements; demographic, obstetric, and gynecologic characteristics; family and personal health history; and diet in the preceding year. Mammographic density was blindly assessed by a single radiologist and classified into four categories: less than 10%, 10-25%, 25-50%, and greater than 50%. The association between adherence to either a Western or a Mediterranean dietary pattern and mammographic density was explored using multivariable ordinal logistic regression models with random center-specific intercepts. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, parity, menopause, smoking, family history, hormonal treatment, and calorie and alcohol intake. Differences according to women's characteristics were tested including interaction terms.
Results:
Women with a higher adherence to the Western dietary pattern were more likely to have high mammographic density (n=242 [27%]) than women with low adherence (n=169 [19%]) with a fully adjusted odds ratio (ORQ4vsQ1) of 1.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.52). This association was confined to overweight-obese women (adjusted ORQ4vsQ1 [95% CI] 1.41 [1.13-1.76]). No association between Mediterranean dietary pattern and mammographic density was observed.
Conclusion:
The Western dietary pattern was associated with increased mammographic density among overweight-obese women. Our results might inform specific dietary recommendations for women with high mammographic density.
