Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review

No relations between breast cancer risk and fatty acids of erythrocyte membranes in postmenopausal women of the Malmo Diet Cancer cohort (Sweden)
Wirfalt, E., Vessby, B., Mattisson, I., Gullberg, B., Olsson, H., Berglund, G. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004. 58:5, 761-70.

Topic area
Diet
Diet
Study design
Nested case-control
Nested case-control
Funding agency
Not reported
Not reported

Study Participants
Number of Cases
237
237
Menopausal Status
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Post menopausal
Number in Cohort
Controls: 673, cohort 12,803
Controls: 673, cohort 12,803
Cohort participation rate
Not reported
Not reported
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: All woman living in the city of Malmo 50 years or older in the MDC (Malmo Diet Cancer Cohort)
Ex: Women with limited Swedish language skills, or with prevalent breast cancer, or other cancer at study entry, except cancer in situ of the cervix and nonmalignant skin cancer
Exposures investigated
Fatty acids of erythrocytes membranes: saturated (stearic); monounsaturated (oleic); polyunsaturated (linoleic)
Fatty acids of erythrocytes membranes: saturated (stearic); monounsaturated (oleic); polyunsaturated (linoleic)
How exposure was measured
Biological
Biological

Statistical Analysis
Breast cancer outcome investigated
Primary breast cancer
Primary breast cancer
Ethnic groups with separate analysis
If this study provided a separate analysis by ethnic or racial group, the groups are listed here.
No
Confounders considered
Other breast cancer risk factors, such as family history, age at first birth, and hormone replacement therapy use, that were taken into account in the study.
Not considered: parity, race, family history of breast cancer, BMI, alcohol
Genetic characterization included
If the study analyzed relationships between environmental factors and inherited genetic variations, this field will be marked “Yes.” “No”, if not.
No
Description of major analysis
Unadjusted and adjusted OR with 95% CI and p-values of trend; analysed as continuous variable associated with one unit change, follow-up from 1991-96 until December 1999
Unadjusted and adjusted OR with 95% CI and p-values of trend; analysed as continuous variable associated with one unit change, follow-up from 1991-96 until December 1999
Strength of associations reported
Stearic: 1.04 (0.84-1.27) p=0.461 ; oleic: 0.99 (0.85-1.15) p= 0.732; linoleic: 0.99 (0.89-1.10) p= 0.785
Stearic: 1.04 (0.84-1.27) p=0.461 ; oleic: 0.99 (0.85-1.15) p= 0.732; linoleic: 0.99 (0.89-1.10) p= 0.785
Results Comments
None of the examined fatty acid variables were associated with increased risk for breast cancer.
None of the examined fatty acid variables were associated with increased risk for breast cancer.

Author address
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Orthopedics, Lund University, Sweden. wirfalt@smi.mas.lu.se
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Orthopedics, Lund University, Sweden. wirfalt@smi.mas.lu.se