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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.
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.
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.
2024
J Hazard Mater
A study analyzing 162 non-alcoholic beverages found that 63 endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were present in 144 products, with concentrations highest in metal-canned beverages and significantly lower or absent in glass, plastic, and carton packaging. Bisphenol A (BPA) levels were notably elevated in canned drinks compared to identical products from the same manufacturers packaged in glass or plastic, and researchers identified two previously unknown BPA structural isomers in beverages for the first time. The calculated daily BPA exposure from average beverage consumption (364 mL/day) exceeded the European Food Safety Authority’s revised safety guideline by up to 2,000-fold, suggesting that regular consumption of canned non-alcoholic beverages—particularly by young children—poses a potential health hazard due to EDC exposure from packaging materials.
2020
Nutrients
A prospective cohort study of 10,930 Spanish female university graduates in the SUN (“Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra”) project examined whether adherence to the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) cancer prevention recommendations was associated with breast cancer risk. The study used an 8-item score measuring compliance with recommendations including body fat, physical activity, consumption of wholegrains/vegetables/fruit/beans, avoidance of fast foods and processed meats, limited sugar-sweetened drinks and alcohol, and breastfeeding. While no significant association was found for overall breast cancer risk, women who scored highest on adherence (>5 points vs. ≤3 points) had a 73% reduced risk of postmenopausal breast cancer after adjusting for other variables. The findings suggest that following multiple WCRF/AICR lifestyle and nutritional recommendations together may significantly reduce postmenopausal breast cancer risk through their combined protective effects.
2018
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Repod Biol
A hospital-based case-control study of 134 breast cancer cases and 267 controls in Tehran, Iran used a 168-item food frequency questionnaire and factor analysis to identify two major dietary patterns and assess their association with breast cancer risk. The “healthy” pattern (high in fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes, fish, whole grains, and liquid/olive oils, with low salt) showed no significant association with breast cancer (OR: 0.83), while the “unhealthy” pattern (high in sweets, soft drinks, mayonnaise, solid oils, processed meat, fried/boiled potatoes, and salt) was associated with significantly increased breast cancer risk in the highest versus lowest quartile (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.04-4.69). When stratified by menopausal status, the unhealthy dietary pattern showed a particularly strong association with breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women (OR: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.16-10.95), but not premenopausal women. These findings suggest that overall dietary patterns—rather than individual nutrients or foods—may be important determinants of breast cancer risk, with an unhealthy Western-style diet pattern characterized by processed foods, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and high salt intake potentially more than doubling breast cancer risk, especially in postmenopausal Iranian women.
2015
PLOS One
A recent study investigated the potential carcinogen 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) in popular beverages colored with caramel, revealing potential cancer risks. Using data from California, where Proposition 65 enforces warning labels on drinks exceeding safe 4-MEI levels, researchers found that 4-MEI concentrations varied by brand and region. For example, Malta Goya had the highest 4-MEI levels, while Coca-Cola had the lowest. Regular consumption of certain sodas could result in daily 4-MEI exposure above safe limits.
2020
Reprod Toxicol
This study indicates that 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), a byproduct found in caramel-colored foods and beverages, may pose reproductive and developmental risks. Research on rats showed that 4-MI exposure led to reproductive delays, decreased sperm health, and abnormal tissue development in the prostate, testis, and reproductive organs at higher doses. Concerns are growing as 4-MI is prevalent in foods like soda and barbecue sauces, widely consumed by all age groups. With no established safe exposure level, findings highlight the importance of monitoring caramel color additives and considering potential risks for human health, especially regarding reproductive well-being.