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Dietary intake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and breast cancer risk: Evidence from the French E3N-Generations prospective cohort.

Amadou et al,

2025

Environ Int

A large French study following nearly 68,000 women for over 17 years found that dietary intake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—cancer-causing chemicals formed when meat, fish, and other foods are grilled, smoked, or cooked at high temperatures—was associated with increased breast cancer risk, particularly for hormone receptor-negative (ER-PR-) breast cancer which had a 34% higher risk at the highest exposure levels. The relationship showed a non-linear pattern, with elevated risk observed at moderate PAH intake levels, and similar trends for benzo[a]pyrene, a marker compound for total PAH exposure. These findings suggest that cooking methods that produce PAHs—such as grilling, barbecuing, and smoking foods—may increase breast cancer risk, supporting recommendations to limit charred or heavily grilled foods and use gentler cooking methods like baking, steaming, or stewing, particularly for women at higher risk.

Carcinogenic industrial air pollution and postmenopausal breast cancer risk in the National Institutes of Health AARP Diet and Health Study.

Madrigal et al,

2024

Environ Int

This large prospective study of over 170,000 women in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study examined whether air emissions of 19 known or suspected carcinogenic chemicals from industrial facilities (1987-1995) were associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk through 2018. Women living within 1 km of high benzene emissions had more than double the breast cancer risk compared to unexposed women (HR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.34-3.17, p-trend=0.001), with the association weakening at greater distances and appearing strongest for invasive rather than ductal carcinoma in situ. Elevated risk was also observed for vinyl chloride exposure at 5 km distance (HR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.01-1.43, p-trend=0.04), with suggestive but unclear associations for asbestos, trichloroethylene, and styrene. These findings indicate that residential proximity to industrial facilities emitting benzene and other carcinogens may increase breast cancer risk, warranting further investigation particularly in diverse populations living near high concentrations of industrial sources.

Ambient fine particulate matter and breast cancer incidence in a large prospective US cohort.

White et al,

2024

J Natl Cancer Inst

A large US study of nearly 197,000 women found that exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) during the 1980s—when pollution levels were higher—was associated with an 8% increased risk of breast cancer overall, with each 10 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 concentration linked to the elevated risk. The association was particularly strong for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers, showing a 10% increased risk, while no association was found for estrogen receptor-negative tumors. This study provides important evidence that historical air pollution exposure, even decades before diagnosis, may contribute to breast cancer development, particularly for hormone-sensitive tumors, emphasizing the long-term health consequences of air quality and the benefits of pollution reduction efforts.

Positive association between dietary exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and breast cancer risk in the French E3N cohort: The role of vegetable oil consumption.

Frenoy et al,

2022

Environ Int

A large French study of nearly 68,000 women followed for over 21 years found that dietary exposure to PBDEs (flame retardant chemicals) was associated with increased breast cancer risk, but importantly, this association was modified by vegetable oil consumption. Women who consumed higher amounts of vegetable oil (≥4.6 g/day) and had the highest PBDE intake showed a 23% increased breast cancer risk, while those with low vegetable oil consumption showed no increased risk regardless of PBDE exposure. These findings suggest that the interaction between diet and chemical contaminants is important to consider when developing public health recommendations, as certain dietary patterns may amplify or mitigate the health risks associated with environmental chemical exposures.

Dietary exposure to acrylamide and breast cancer risk: results from the NutriNet-Santé cohort.

Bellicha et al,

2022

Am J Clin Nutr

A large French study following over 80,000 women for nearly 9 years found that higher dietary acrylamide intake—a probable carcinogen formed when starchy foods like coffee, French fries, chips, and baked goods are cooked at high temperatures—was associated with a 40% increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer. The association showed a nonlinear pattern, with elevated risk at both moderate and high exposure levels, and was specifically linked to estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, while no association was found for postmenopausal breast cancer. These findings support the need for continued efforts to reduce acrylamide formation in foods through improved cooking and processing methods, as dietary acrylamide exposure—averaging about 30 micrograms per day in this population—may be a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer, particularly in younger women.

Dietary insulin index and load with risk of breast cancer in a case-control study.

Akbari et al,

2021

Int J Clin Pract

A case-control study of 250 breast cancer patients and 250 controls found that women consuming diets that trigger higher insulin responses after meals—measured by dietary insulin index (DII) and dietary insulin load (DIL)—had 46-87% increased odds of breast cancer compared to those with lower scores. These high insulin-stimulating diets were more common among overweight women and those with family histories of cancer, suggesting that dietary patterns affecting blood insulin levels may be a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer. The findings support reducing consumption of foods that spike insulin levels—typically refined carbohydrates and high-glycemic foods—as a potential dietary strategy for breast cancer prevention, particularly for women at higher risk.

Prospective association between dietary pesticide exposure profiles and postmenopausal breast-cancer risk in the NutriNet-Santé cohort.

Rebouillat et al,

2021

Int J Epidemiol

This French study of over 13,000 postmenopausal women found that those with low dietary exposure to synthetic pesticides (primarily from eating organic foods) had a 43% lower breast cancer risk, while overweight and obese women with high exposure to certain pesticides (including chlorpyrifos and malathion) had over four times the breast cancer risk. The researchers estimated pesticide exposure by tracking whether participants ate conventional or organic versions of various foods and using a database of pesticide residues found on different crops. These findings suggest that dietary pesticide exposure from conventional foods may increase breast cancer risk, particularly in women who are overweight or obese, though more research is needed to confirm these results and understand the underlying mechanisms.

Outdoor light at night and postmenopausal breast cancer risk in the NIH-AARP diet and health study.

Xiao et al,

2020

Cancer Epidemiol

A study of 186,981 postmenopausal women in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study found that those living in areas with the highest levels of outdoor light at night (LAN) had a 10% increased risk of developing breast cancer over 16 years of follow-up compared to women in the darkest areas. The association was stronger for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer (12% increased risk) and appeared to vary by individual characteristics such as smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, and body mass index. These findings suggest that nighttime light pollution may disrupt circadian rhythms and contribute to breast cancer development, particularly hormone-sensitive tumors. The results highlight artificial light at night as a potentially modifiable environmental risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer, with implications for urban planning and outdoor lighting policies.

Investigating the risk of breast cancer among women exposed to chemicals: a nested case-control study using improved exposure estimates.

Videnros et al,

2020

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

This Swedish study of 2,400 postmenopausal women found that those exposed to chemicals in the workplace had a 59% increased risk of breast cancer, with the risk increasing with longer duration of exposure. Women exposed to chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents or oil mist for more than 10 years had approximately triple the breast cancer risk compared to unexposed women. The study used individualized exposure assessments based on specific work tasks rather than just job titles, providing stronger evidence that workplace chemical exposures—particularly to organic solvents and oil mist commonly found in manufacturing and industrial settings—may be important contributors to breast cancer risk.

Dietary cadmium and risk of breast cancer subtypes defined by hormone receptor status: A prospective cohort study.

Grioni et al,

2019

Cancer Epidemiol

A 22-year Italian study following nearly 9,000 women found that those with the highest dietary cadmium intake (a toxic metal found in foods like grains, vegetables, and shellfish) had a 54% increased breast cancer risk compared to those with the lowest intake, with even stronger associations in premenopausal women (73% increased risk). Cadmium—classified as a proven human carcinogen—enters the food supply primarily through contaminated soil and water, with diet being the main exposure source for non-smokers at an average intake of about 8 micrograms per day in this population. The increased risk was consistent across all breast cancer subtypes regardless of hormone receptor status, supporting cadmium as a dietary risk factor for breast cancer and highlighting the need for strategies to reduce cadmium levels in the food supply through soil remediation and crop selection.

Use of dietary supplements containing soy isoflavones and breast cancer risk among women aged >50 y: a prospective study.

Touillaud et al,

2019

Am J Clin Nutr

A large French cohort study of 76,442 women over age 50 followed for 11 years found that current soy supplement use was associated with a 22% reduced risk of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer but a 101% increased risk of ER-negative breast cancer compared to never users. The risk profile varied significantly by personal characteristics: women with a family history of breast cancer showed a 36% increased risk with soy supplement use, while those without family history showed an 18% reduced risk; premenopausal or recently postmenopausal women showed a 50% risk reduction, while women more than 5 years past menopause showed a 6% increased risk. These findings suggest that soy supplements—often marketed as natural alternatives to hormone therapy—may have complex and opposing effects on breast cancer risk depending on tumor biology and individual characteristics, cautioning against their use particularly in women with breast cancer family history.

Fruit and vegetable consumption and breast cancer incidence: Repeated measures over 30 years of follow-up.

Farvid et al,

2019

Int J Cancer

A large prospective study of 182,145 women in the Nurses’ Health Study found that higher fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with an 11% lower risk of invasive breast cancer, with the strongest benefits from cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and cabbage) and yellow/orange vegetables (like carrots and squash). Women consuming more than 5.5 servings per day had significantly lower breast cancer risk compared to those eating 2.5 servings or less, with particularly strong protective effects against aggressive tumor types including estrogen receptor-negative (16% risk reduction per 2 additional servings/day), HER2-enriched (21% reduction), and basal-like (16% reduction) breast cancers. The protective associations were most pronounced for tumor subtypes that tend to be more aggressive and harder to treat. These findings suggest that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, especially cruciferous and yellow/orange varieties, may help prevent breast cancer and particularly reduce the risk of developing more aggressive forms of the disease.

Association between nitrogen dioxide and incident breast cancer in Alberta’s tomorrow project.

Ahmadi et al,

2025

Sci Rep

A secondary analysis of 15,536 post-menopausal women from the Alberta Tomorrow Project cohort examined whether exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), measured using nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels, was associated with breast cancer risk over 12.6 years of follow-up during which 523 breast cancer cases were diagnosed. After adjusting for confounders including age, education, births, diet, income, physical activity, BMI, and smoking, the study found no significant association between NO₂ exposure and post-menopausal breast cancer risk (HR = 1.10 per 10-ppb increase in NO₂; 95% CI = 0.90, 1.34). The authors suggest that while the magnitude of risk observed was similar to other studies, the lack of statistical significance may be due to the study’s sample size limitations and the fact that NO₂ levels in Alberta are lower than in many other regions globally where associations have been found. These findings indicate that traffic-related air pollution may not significantly impact post-menopausal breast cancer risk in regions with relatively low pollution levels, though larger studies in more polluted areas may be needed to fully assess this relationship.

Consumption of fast foods and ultra-processed foods and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Karimi et al,

2025

Global Health Res Pol

A meta-analysis of 17 observational studies found that the highest consumption of fast foods and ultra-processed foods (FFs/UPFs) was associated with a 25% increased breast cancer risk compared to the lowest consumption levels. The association was particularly strong in case-control studies and in Latin American populations, and remained significant regardless of sample size or BMI adjustment, though no association was found in cohort studies or when stratified by menopausal status. These findings suggest that diets high in ultra-processed foods—which often contain carcinogenic compounds formed during processing, additives, packaging contaminants, and unhealthy nutrient profiles—may contribute to breast cancer development, highlighting the urgent need for public health strategies and regulatory policies targeting food processing standards, marketing restrictions, improved labeling, and reduced accessibility of ultra-processed foods to reduce cancer risk, particularly as global consumption of these products continues to rise.

The mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk.

Lin et al,

2025

Nutr J

A prospective cohort study of 13,567 Chinese women followed for nearly 15 years found that consuming one or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) per week was associated with a 58% increased breast cancer risk compared to consuming less than one serving weekly. The association was partly mediated by body mass index (4.2%) and uric acid (18.8%), with genetic analyses identifying additional metabolic mediators including cholesterol and fatty acid ratios accounting for small portions of the effect. Interestingly, higher soy milk consumption (3-6 portions weekly) was associated with a 69% reduced breast cancer risk, while dairy milk showed a non-significant trend toward increased risk, and no associations were found for juice, coffee, tea, or alcohol, suggesting that reducing SSB consumption and addressing the associated metabolic disruptions could be effective breast cancer prevention strategies.

Specific microbiome patterns and their association with breast cancer: the intestinal microbiota as a potential biomarker and therapeutic strategy.

Amaro-da-Cruz et al,

2025

Clin Transl Oncol

A review of 29 studies found that breast cancer patients have distinct imbalances in their gut and breast tissue bacteria that vary based on cancer type, stage, menopause status, body weight, and physical activity, though no single bacterial profile has yet emerged as a reliable biomarker. The research suggests that gut microbiome composition may influence how well breast cancer treatments work, with some beneficial bacteria and their metabolites potentially improving therapy effectiveness or slowing tumor growth. These findings highlight the microbiome as a promising new area for developing personalized breast cancer treatments and improving outcomes, though more research is needed to identify specific bacterial targets and understand the underlying mechanisms.

High adherence to Western dietary pattern increases breast cancer risk (an EPIC-Spain study).

Castelló et al,

2024

Maturitas

A prospective study of 24,892 Spanish women (639 breast cancer cases) from the EPIC cohort examined associations between three dietary patterns (Western, Prudent, Mediterranean) and breast cancer risk over time. Women with moderate-to-high adherence to the Western dietary pattern showed a non-linear 37% increased breast cancer risk compared to those with lowest adherence (HR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.07-1.77 for third quartile and HR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.03-1.83 for fourth quartile), with particularly strong associations in postmenopausal women (HR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.04-1.94 in highest quartile) and for ER+/PR+/HER2- tumors (HR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.11-2.63 in highest quartile), while Prudent and Mediterranean patterns showed no clear associations. The findings suggest that Western dietary patterns characterized by high-fat dairy, red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets, caloric drinks, and convenience foods may increase breast cancer risk, especially for hormone receptor-positive tumors in postmenopausal women.

Ginger volatile oil inhibits the growth of MDA-MB-231 in the bisphenol A environment by altering gut microbial diversity.

Luo et al,

2024

Heliyon

A mouse study found that ginger volatile oil (GVO) reduced triple-negative breast cancer tumor growth in animals exposed to bisphenol A (BPA), a common plastic chemical known to promote cancer, with the effect linked to restoration of healthy gut bacteria. BPA exposure disrupted the gut microbiome by reducing bacterial diversity and beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus, but treatment with ginger oil reversed these changes and increased the ratio of beneficial bacteria while decreasing harmful bacteria. The findings suggest that ginger compounds may counteract BPA’s cancer-promoting effects through their impact on the gut microbiome, offering a potential dietary strategy to mitigate harm from plastic chemical exposure, though human studies are needed to confirm these results.

Ultra-processed and fast food consumption, exposure to phthalates during pregnancy, and socioeconomic disparities in phthalate exposures.

Baker et al,

2024

Environ Int

A study of 1,031 pregnant women from the socioeconomically diverse CANDLE cohort in the urban South found that ultra-processed foods constituted 38.6% of participants’ diets on average, with each 10% higher dietary proportion of ultra-processed foods associated with 13.1% higher urinary concentrations of DEHP phthalate metabolites, while specific foods like hamburgers, French fries, soda, and cake showed 6-10.5% higher DEHP per standard deviation increase in consumption. Causal mediation analyses revealed that lower income and education levels were associated with 1.9% and 1.4% higher DEHP exposure respectively, mediated through increased ultra-processed food consumption, indicating that ultra-processed foods contribute to socioeconomic disparities in phthalate exposure during pregnancy. The findings demonstrate that consuming ultra-processed foods increases exposure to endocrine-disrupting phthalates from food contact materials, and because socioeconomic barriers can prevent dietary modifications, policies to reduce phthalates in food packaging and processing are needed rather than relying solely on individual dietary recommendations to reduce prenatal phthalate exposures.

Association between processed and ultra-processed food intake and the risk of breast cancer: a case-control study.

Nouri et al,

2024

BMC Cancer

A case-control study of 133 breast cancer cases and 266 controls in Tehran, Iran used a food frequency questionnaire and the NOVA classification system to examine the association between processed foods (PFs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption and breast cancer risk. In the initial model, women in the highest tertile of UPF consumption had nearly double the odds of breast cancer compared to the lowest tertile (OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.08-3.45), though this association was no longer significant after additional adjustments in a second model. However, when stratified by menopausal status, premenopausal women in the highest tertile of UPF consumption had more than 3.5 times higher odds of breast cancer (OR = 3.66; 95% CI: 1.33-10.08) in the fully adjusted model. These findings suggest that high consumption of ultra-processed foods may be particularly associated with increased breast cancer risk among premenopausal women, adding to the limited and sometimes contradictory evidence on the relationship between ultra-processed food intake and breast cancer.

Palaeolithic diet score and risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women overall and by hormone receptor and histologic subtypes.

Shah et al,

2023

Eur J Clinc Nutr

A prospective study of 65,574 postmenopausal French women followed for 20 years found that high adherence to a Paleolithic diet—characterized by high intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, and lean meat while limiting dairy, grains, legumes, refined sugar, and alcohol—was associated with a 17% reduced breast cancer risk compared to low adherence. Each standard deviation increase in Paleolithic diet score was associated with an 8% lower breast cancer risk, and notably, the protective association was consistent across all breast cancer subtypes, suggesting involvement of non-hormonal mechanisms. These findings provide the first long-term evidence linking Paleolithic dietary patterns to breast cancer prevention and suggest that this eating pattern—which emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods while restricting potentially inflammatory foods—may offer protective benefits beyond what has been observed with other dietary patterns, though further research is needed to identify the specific biological mechanisms involved.

Association between Gut Microbiota and Breast Cancer: Diet as a Potential Modulating Factor.

Altinok Dindar et al,

2023

Nutrients

A case-control study of 42 newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve breast cancer patients and 44 age-matched cancer-free controls at Oregon Health & Science University (2020-2021) found reduced gut microbial diversity in breast cancer patients and enrichment of three specific bacterial genera—Acidaminococcus, Tyzzerella, and Hungatella—in fecal samples from cases, with these genera associated with distinct dietary patterns including vegetables and dairy (Hungatella) and whole fruits (Acidaminococcus). Breast cancer patients also had significantly higher BMI and lower physical activity levels, and microbiome analysis revealed significant differences in composition between cases and controls using 16S rRNA sequencing. These findings highlight complex interactions between the gut microbiome, dietary habits (assessed via National Cancer Institute Diet History Questionnaire), lifestyle factors like weight management and physical activity, and breast cancer risk, suggesting the gut microbiome may serve as a source of biomarkers for breast cancer risk assessment, though larger studies are needed to establish causal relationships and validate these microbial signatures.

Dietary Inflammatory Index and risk of breast cancer: evidence from a prospective cohort of 67,879 women followed for 20 years in France.

Hajji-Louati et al,

2023

Eur J Nutr

A large prospective cohort study of 67,879 French women followed for 21 years found that higher dietary inflammatory potential was associated with a 4% increased breast cancer risk per standard deviation increase in DII score, with women in the highest versus lowest quintile showing a 13% increased risk in a linear dose-response relationship. The association was slightly stronger among non-smokers (6% increased risk per standard deviation) and low alcohol consumers (5% increased risk per standard deviation), suggesting that inflammatory diet effects may be most pronounced in women without other pro-inflammatory exposures. These findings from one of the largest and longest prospective studies provide strong evidence that promoting anti-inflammatory dietary patterns—rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish while limiting processed foods, red meat, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fats—could contribute meaningfully to breast cancer prevention as part of comprehensive public health strategies.

Ethylene oxide emissions and incident breast cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a US cohort.

Jones et al,

2023

J Natl Cancer Inst

A large cohort study of 451,945 National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study participants used EPA Toxics Release Inventory data to estimate historical environmental ethylene oxide (EtO) exposures based on proximity to EtO-emitting facilities, wind patterns, and emission levels from enrollment in 1995-1996. Among 173,670 postmenopausal women, living within 10 km of EtO facilities was associated with statistically significant breast cancer risk for invasive disease (HR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.97-1.09); women in the highest quartile of the airborne emissions index showed elevated risk of in situ breast cancer at 10 km (HR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.02-1.53), with no clear patterns for non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk. These findings reveal a novel potential association between environmental EtO exposure and in situ breast cancer—but not invasive breast cancer or lymphohematopoietic cancers—contrasting with occupational studies that found associations with invasive disease. The differential association with in situ versus invasive disease suggests EtO may influence early-stage breast carcinogenesis, though the mechanism remains unclear and warrants further investigation to understand why environmental exposures show different patterns than occupational exposures and why the effect appears limited to pre-invasive lesions.

Cadmium exposure and risk of breast cancer: A meta-analysis.

Florez-Garcia et al,

2023

Environ Res

A meta-analysis of 17 epidemiological studies examining cadmium exposure and breast cancer risk found no statistically significant associations overall or when examining specific exposure routes separately (dietary cadmium or biomarker-based studies), with substantial heterogeneity between studies and no clear patterns by menopausal status. The inconclusive findings leave critical questions about whether specific exposure routes (occupational, air pollution, smoking) pose different risks than dietary intake or whether residual confounding by tobacco smoke constituents may influence observed associations. These results highlight the need for future research with better exposure assessment methods that can distinguish between different cadmium sources and routes of exposure, particularly occupational and environmental air pollution exposures that may be more relevant than diet for populations living near industrial areas where cadmium contamination is prevalent.

Lifestyle Quality Indices and Female Breast Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Armenta-Guirado et al,

2023

Adv Nutr

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 studies (29 included in quantitative analysis) following Cochrane methodology examined associations between healthy lifestyle indices (incorporating factors like healthy body weight, diet, physical activity) and breast cancer risk. Comparing the highest versus lowest adherence categories, the analysis found a 20% breast cancer risk reduction in prospective studies (HR=0.80; 95% CI: 0.78-0.83) and 26% reduction in retrospective studies (OR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.63-0.86), with inverse associations remaining significant when stratified by menopausal status (except for premenopausal BC in prospective studies) and across molecular subtypes: ER+/PR+ (HR=0.68; 95% CI: 0.63-0.73), ER+/PR- (HR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.67-0.90), and ER-/PR- (HR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.64-0.92). These findings—with most studies scoring low risk of bias and moderate certainty of evidence—demonstrate that adherence to healthy lifestyles reduces breast cancer risk by approximately 20-30% regardless of molecular subtype or menopausal status, supporting the prioritization of lifestyle-based recommendations for population-level breast cancer prevention as a key modifiable approach to reducing the substantial disease burden.

Food Thermal Labels are a Source of Dietary Exposure to Bisphenol S and Other Color Developers.

Xu et al,

2023

Environ Sci Technol

This review investigates the migration of bisphenols and alternative color developers from thermal labels on cling-wrapped fresh food, identifying them as significant dietary sources of these compounds. While no BPA was found in packaging, high concentrations of bisphenol S (BPS) and other alternatives were detected, particularly in thermal labels. Migration studies revealed that BPS and related compounds leach into food, especially fish, raising potential health concerns. These findings highlight the need for further risk assessments regarding these alternative chemicals in food packaging due to past findings about BPA being an endocrine disruptor. This will help mitigate exposure risks and ensure consumer safety.

Occurrence of phthalates in different food matrices: A systematic review of the main sources of contamination and potential risks.

da Costa et al,

2023

Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf

A systematic review of phthalate contamination in food identified 19 phthalates across multiple food categories, with 57 measurements exceeding legal limits and DEHP showing the highest incidence; risk assessment revealed high probability of exceeding tolerable daily intake for DEHP and DBP in fish, oils/fats, cereals, and dairy for both children and adults, with fats/oils being the most critical category. Migration from food contact materials is positively correlated with temperature, contact time, fat content, and acidity, with contamination occurring throughout the production chain. The widespread contamination exceeding safe exposure limits—particularly for vulnerable populations including children—highlights the urgent need for stricter regulation of phthalates in food packaging and production materials.

Association of a Healthy Lifestyle Index with Risk of Breast Cancer among Women with Normal Body Mass Index in the UK Biobank.

Peila et al,

2022

Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev

A study of 102,572 women aged 40-69 years with normal BMI (18.5-<25 kg/m²) from the UK Biobank examined whether a healthy lifestyle index (HLI)—a composite score based on diet quality, low alcohol consumption, no smoking, moderate-to-high physical activity, and waist circumference <80 cm—was associated with breast cancer risk. Postmenopausal women with the highest HLI scores (3rd tertile) had a 24% reduced risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest scores (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.64-0.91), while premenopausal women showed similar but non-significant trends, except when smoking was excluded from the score (HR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.56-0.90). These findings demonstrate that even among women with normal BMI—a group traditionally considered at lower risk—adhering to multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors is associated with reduced breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. The results suggest that maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet, physical activity, limited alcohol, healthy waist circumference, and not smoking may provide breast cancer protection beyond weight management alone, particularly for postmenopausal women.

Association of Empirically Derived Food-Based Inflammatory Potential of the Diet and Breast Cancer: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study.

Ghanbari et al,

2022

Clin Breast Cancer

A case-control study of 150 Iranian women with newly diagnosed breast cancer matched with 150 controls found that women consuming the most pro-inflammatory diets (highest quartile of food-based dietary inflammatory index) had a 138% increased breast cancer risk compared to those with the least inflammatory diets, with the association remaining significant (180% increased risk) after adjusting for confounding factors. The food-based empirical dietary inflammatory index (FDII), which scores dietary patterns based on 27 pre-defined food groups according to their inflammatory potential, showed a clear dose-response relationship with breast cancer risk across quartiles. These findings from a Middle Eastern population reinforce that dietary patterns promoting systemic inflammation substantially increase breast cancer risk, and suggest that practical, food-based dietary modifications—emphasizing anti-inflammatory whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish while limiting pro-inflammatory processed foods, red meat, and refined carbohydrates—could be an effective and culturally adaptable breast cancer prevention strategy.

Dietary inflammatory index and breast cancer risk: an updated meta-analysis of observational studies.

Hayati et al,

2022

Nutr Cancer

An updated meta-analysis of 21 studies including over 346,000 participants found that the most pro-inflammatory diets were associated with a 16% increased breast cancer risk overall, with particularly strong associations among postmenopausal women (13% increased risk), obese women with BMI ≥30 kg/m² (35% increased risk), and populations in developing countries (79% increased risk). The analysis revealed important methodological influences on effect estimates, with stronger associations observed in case-control studies (50% increased risk), studies using hospital-based controls (111% increased risk), and cohort studies with prolonged follow-up (13% increased risk). These findings not only confirm that pro-inflammatory dietary patterns increase breast cancer risk but also demonstrate that the magnitude of association varies substantially by population characteristics and study design, with obesity and postmenopausal status appearing to amplify the carcinogenic effects of inflammatory diets—suggesting that anti-inflammatory dietary interventions may be particularly beneficial for overweight/obese postmenopausal women and populations in developing countries where rapid dietary transitions toward processed, inflammatory foods are occurring.

Dietary intakes of dioxins and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and breast cancer risk in 9 European countries.

Fiolet et al,

2022

Environ Int

A large prospective study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort examined 318,607 women from nine European countries over a median 14.9 years of follow-up, identifying 13,241 incident invasive breast cancer cases, to assess whether dietary intake of 17 dioxins and 35 polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs)—persistent organic pollutants with endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic properties—was associated with breast cancer risk. Dietary exposures to dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs), non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs), and combined dioxins + DL-PCBs showed no associations with breast cancer incidence (all HRs approximately 1.00-1.01 per 1 SD increase), with results remaining consistent when analyzed by quintile groups, by country, by estrogen receptor status, or after adjusting for contributing food groups and nutritional factors. These findings from one of the largest prospective studies on this topic do not support an association between dietary intake of dioxins and PCBs—the main exposure route for these chemicals in the general population—and breast cancer risk. Despite the established endocrine-disrupting properties of these pollutants and some previous suggestions of positive associations, this comprehensive European study provides reassuring evidence that typical dietary exposures to dioxins and PCBs are not linked to increased breast cancer incidence.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and their link with increasing risk of cancer

Supe et al,

Romanos-Nanclares et al,

No results found.

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