Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load and breast cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The glycemic potential of a diet is associated with chronically elevated insulin concentrations, which may augment breast cancer (BC) risk by stimulating insulin receptor or by affecting insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)-mediated mitogenesis. It is unclear whether this effect differs by BC phenotype.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective was to investigate the relation between glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and total carbohydrate intake with BC by using data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

DESIGN:

We identified 11,576 women with invasive BC among 334,849 EPIC women aged 34-66 y (5th to 95th percentiles) at baseline over a median follow-up of 11.5 y. Dietary GI and GL were calculated from country-specific dietary questionnaires. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to quantify the association between GI, GL, and carbohydrate intake and BC risk. BC tumors were classified by receptor status.

RESULTS:

Overall GI, GL, and carbohydrates were not related to BC. Among postmenopausal women, GL and carbohydate intake were significantly associated with an increased risk of estrogen receptor-negative (ER(-)) BC when extreme quintiles (Q) were compared [multivariable HR(Q5-Q1) (95% CI) = 1.36 (1.02, 1.82; P-trend = 0.010) and HR(Q5-Q1) = 1.41 (1.05, 1.89; P-trend = 0.009), respectively]. Further stratification by progesterone receptor (PR) status showed slightly stronger associations with ER(-)/PR(-) BC [HR(Q5-Q1) (95% CI) = 1.48 (1.07, 2.05; P-trend = 0.010) for GL and HR(Q5-Q1) = 1.62 (1.15, 2.30; P-trend = 0.005) for carbohydrates]. No significant association with ER-positive BC was observed.

CONCLUSION:

Our results indicate that a diet with a high GL and carbohydrate intake is positively associated with an increased risk of developing ER(-) and ER(-)/PR(-) BC among postmenopausal women.

• Authors: Isabelle Romieu, Pietro Ferrari, Sabina Rinaldi, Nadia Slimani, Mazda Jenab, Anja Olsen, Anne Tjonneland, Kim Overvad, Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault, Martin Lajous, Rudolf Kaaks, Birgit Teucher, Heiner Boeing, Antonia Trichopoulou, Androniki Naska, Effie Vasilopoulo, Carlotta Sacerdote, Rosario Tumino, Giovanna Masala, Sabina Sieri, Salvatore Panico, H Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, Daphne Van-der-A, Carla H van Gils, Petra H M Peeters, Eiliv Lund, Guri Skeie, Lene Angell Asli, Laudina Rodriguez, Carmen Navarro, Pilar Amiano, Maria-José Sanchez, Aurelio Barricarte, Genevieve Buckland, Emily Sonestedt, Elisabet Wirfält, Göran Hallmans, Ingegerd Johansson, Timothy J Key, Naomi E Allen, Kay-Tee Khaw, Nicholas J Wareham, Teresa Norat, Elio Riboli, Françoise Clavel-Chapelon
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 96 Issue 2 Pg. 345-55 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1938-3207 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22760570 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Dietary Carbohydrates
• Insulin
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Blood Glucose (analysis)
• Breast Neoplasms (epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Diet
• Dietary Carbohydrates (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Glycemic Index
• Humans
• Insulin (blood)
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Nutrition Assessment
• Nutritional Status
• Postmenopause
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Prospective Studies
• Receptors, Estrogen (analysis)
• Risk Factors
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Treatment Outcome
• White People