Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load, and breast cancer risk: A case-control study

• Published in: Annals of oncology Vol. 12; no. 11; pp. 1533 - 1538
• Main Authors: Augustin, L. S. A., Maso, L. Dal, Vecchia, C. La, Parpinel, M., Negri, E., Vaccarella, S., Kendall, C.W.C., Jenkins, D. J. A., Franceschi, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.11.2001
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - etiology; carbohydrate; Case-Control Studies; case-control study; Dietary Carbohydrates - adverse effects; Education; Exercise; Feeding Behavior; Female; glycemic load; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hyperinsulinism - etiology; Insulin - blood; Italy - epidemiology; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Menopause; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Parity; Risk Factors; Tumors; Human; Hyperinsulinemia; Glycemic index; Supplemented diet; Case control study; Glucose; Malignant tumor; Epidemiology; Insulin; Mammary gland diseases; Risk factor; Predisposition; Carbohydrate; Mammary gland; Glycemia
• ISSN: 0923-7534; 1569-8041
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1013176129380

Summary Background Certain types of carbohydrates increase glucose and insulin levels to a greater extent than others In turn, insulin may raise levels of insulin-like growth factors, which may influence breast cancer risk We analyzed the effect of type and amount of carbohydrates on breast cancer risk, using the glycemic index and the glycemic load measures in a large casecontrol study conducted in Italy Patients and methods. Cases were 2569 women with incident, histologically-confirmed breast cancer interviewed between 1991 and 1994 Controls were 2588 women admitted to the same hospital network for a variety of acute, non-neoplastic conditions Average daily glycemic index and glycemic load were calculated from a validated 78-item food frequency questionnaire Results Direct associations with breast cancer risk emerged for glycemic index (odds ratio, OR for highest vs lowest quintile = 1 4, P for trend <0 01) and glycemic load (OR = 1 3; P < 0 01) High glycemic index foods, such as white bread, increased the risk of breast cancer (OR = 1 3) while the intake of pasta, a medium glycemic index food, seemed to have no influence (OR = 1 0) Findings were consistent across different strata of menopausal status, alcohol intake, and physical activity level Conclusions This study supports the hypothesis of moderate, direct associations between glycemic index or glycemic load and breast cancer risk and, consequently, a possible role of hyper-insulinemia/insulin resistance in breast cancer development