Dietary patterns and breast cancer risk: a large-scale case control study among Moroccan women

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer among women worldwide. Previous studies have associated it with lifestyle factors, including diet, although findings on diet remain limited or inconsistent. In Morocco, research on the role of dietary factors in BC risk is particularly scarce. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and BC risk among Moroccan women.

A total of 2.800 women from Morocco participated in this case control study. Data were collected using a validated FFQ adapted to the Moroccan context, and Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify dietary patterns. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess BC risk across quartiles of adherence to each identified dietary pattern.

PCA revealed four distinct dietary patterns. After adjusting for potential confounders, the "Sugary and Refined Carbohydrate Diet" was positively associated with higher odds of BC (OR = 7.71; 95% CI (5.79-10.26); p < 0.001). In contrast, the "Plant-Based and Mediterranean Diet" was inversely associated with BC risk (OR = 0.26; 95% CI 0.20-0.34; p < 0.001). For the dairy-rich diet, higher adherence showed lower BC odds in mid-quartiles, but the highest quartile was associated with higher odds after adjustment (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.41-2.29; p < 0.001). No significant associations were found for the Animal protein rich diet in relation to BC risk.

This study highlights the potential risk of diets high in refined carbohydrates and the protective benefits of plant-based and Mediterranean diets in preventing BC.