Adherence to a Cholesterol‐Lowering Diet and the Risk of Female Hormone‐Related Cancers: An Analysis From a Case–Control Study Network
ABSTRACT
Objective
We investigated the association between a cholesterol‐lowering diet score and the risk of female hormone‐related cancers.
Design
We used data on 2108 breast, 367 endometrial, 869 ovarian cancer cases and corresponding controls from an Italian network of case–control studies.
Setting
Hospital‐based.
Sample
Breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer cases and controls.
Methods
We assessed the adherence to a cholesterol‐lowering diet using a score based on seven dietary components: high intake of non‐cellulosic polysaccharides, monounsaturated fatty acids, legumes, seeds/corn oil; low intake of saturated fatty acids, dietary cholesterol, and glycaemic index. We assigned one point for each component if the requirement was met; otherwise, we assigned zero. The overall score was calculated by summing up points over the seven components, ranging from 0 (null) to 7 (complete adherence).
Main Outcome Measures
Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through unconditional logistic regression models including terms for potential confounders.
Results
Compared to a low adherence to a cholesterol‐lowering diet (0–2 points), the ORs for a higher adherence (5–7 points) were 0.74 (95% CI: 0.60–0.92) for breast, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.30–0.77) for endometrial, and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.57–0.99) for ovarian cancer. The ORs for a 1‐point increment in the score were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.97–0.80), 0.80 (95% CI: 0.72–0.90), and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.84–0.97) for breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, respectively.
Conclusions
A cholesterol‐lowering diet may favourably affect the risk of female hormone‐related cancers.