Low-fat dietary modification and risk of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in the women's health initiative dietary modification trial

Rita Peila, Rowan Chlebowski, Joann E. Manson, Tracy E. Crane, Dorothy S. Lane, Nazmus Saquib, Aladdin H. Shadyab, Fred K. Tabung, Ana Barac, Zhenzhen Zhang, Kathy Pan, Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Thomas E. Rohan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Results of observational studies of the association between dietary fat and risk of invasive breast cancer have been inconsistent. In the Women's Health Initiative dietary modification (DM) randomized trial designed to lower fat intake, the intervention was not associated with a statistically significant reduction of overall breast cancer risk. However, the DM association with risk of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast, a putative breast cancer precursor, has not been reported. Methods: A total of 48, 835 postmenopausal women, ages 50-79 years at enrollment, with no breast cancer history and ≥32% of total energy intake from fat, were randomly assigned either to a dietary intervention (n=19, 541) designed to reduce total fat intake to 20% of energy and to increase vegetable, fruit, and grain consumption, or to a comparison group (n = 29, 294). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals for the association between the intervention and DCIS risk. Results: During 18.7 years (median) cumulative follow-up, including intervention (~8.7 years) and post-intervention phases (~13.0 years), 817 DCIS cases were ascertained. No evidence of an association between the DM intervention and DCIS risk was observed overall, or by trial phase (intervention and postintervention). Similarly, no associations were found in subgroups defined by potential risk factors for DCIS. Conclusions: DMaiming to reduce fat intake was not associated with altered risk of DCIS. Impact: These results do not provide evidence of an association between dietary fat reduction and the risk of DCIS among postmenopausal women.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1753-1756
Number of pages4
JournalCancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention
Volume30
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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