STUDY: Breast Cancer Risk May Be Cut By 65% With Coffee, Fruit And Veg Diet
Health News
Published: 02 May 2019 17:03 CET
Updated: 14 October 2019 19:03 CET
A new study claims that a diet rich in coffee, fruit and vegetables, could lower the risk of breast cancer.
The findings were presented to the European Congress on Obesity in Glasgow and suggest that the phenolic acids commonly found in these food items may have a protective effect on post-menopausal breast cancer.
High levels of the acids are commonly found in sources such as citrus fruits, apples, blueberries, raspberries, onions, plums, red wine, cocoa, whole wheat, oats, corn, rice and coffee.
The research was performed by teams from the University of Navarra and the University of Jaen in Spain.
The study aimed to look at the possible link between the two main phenolic acids, hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic and the risk of breast cancer using data from over 11,000 female participants.
Prior to the study, each of the women completed questionnaires on their eating habits and how often they consumed 136 different food items.
After 12 years, the participants were followed up, with researchers finding a total of 101 cases of breast cancer had occured in the women.
The levels of phenolic acids they had consumed during the period was then calculated using a database of each food and the levels of phenolic acids contained.
Results showed that the women who had the highest consumption of the hydroxycinnamic acids had a 65% reduced risk of breast cancer in comparison to the women with the lowest intake levels.
One of the biggest sources of hydroxycinnamic acid was discovered to be in coffee along with fruits and vegetables and had the most positive impact.
Researchers concluded that, “A higher intake of hydroxycinnamic acids, especially from chlorogenic acids – present in coffee, fruits and vegetables – was associated with decreased post-menopausal breast cancer risk.”
The study suggests that a diet rich in such nutrients may reduce fat tissue inflammation and oxidative stress which can damage tissue, or resistance to insulin.
Susannah Brown of the World Cancer Research Fund said, “This is an interesting study that further confirms the importance of consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables for cancer prevention.”
“It also suggests some of the potential underlying biological reasons as to why fruit and vegetables are protective against cancer.”
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