Legumes (pulses) and breast cancer.

Breast cancer risk: Data about the relation with breast cancer risk was provided by a pooled analysis of 8 cohorts (15), and one additional cohort (29). A significant protective effect was found in the single cohort, but no association was found in the pooled analysis.

Breast cancer mortality: Data about the relation with breast cancer mortality was provided by one cohort (36). No association was found with boiled beans.

Conclusion: A significant protective effect was found in one cohort, but not in the pooled analysis. No evidence was found for an association between legumes and breast cancer.

Author	Cohort name	Subjects	Years of follow-up	Cases	End point	Consumption of	Relative Risk (RR)	Adjustments
36) Iso H (2007)	The JACC Study.	57,985 women. (Japan)	Not defined.	95	Breast cancer mortality	Boiled beans (not defined)	HR = 1.41 (0.80-2.49) for the highest vs lowest tertile of consumption. Amount specific data: < 1/w: HR = 1. 1-2/w: HR = 1.02 (0.57-1.81). ≥ 3/w: HR = 1.41 (0.80-2.49).	Age and study area.
29) Velie EM. (2005)	The Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project.	23,183 women aged 40-91 with a BMI < 25. (USA)	8 (1987-89 to 1997)	1,024	Breast cancer risk (including in situ cases)	Beans and legumes (pinto, lima, and kidney), baked and cooked	RH = 0.79 (0.66-0.95; P = 0.02) for the highest vs lowest quartile of consumption. Amount specific data (Quartiles not defined): Never eat: RH = 1. Q2: RH = 0.90 (0.75-1.07). Q3: RH = 0.84 (0.70-1.00). Q4: RH = 0.79 (0.66-0.95). Similar although less significant results were observed in the full sample of all study participants (40,599 women/ 1,868 cases) regardless of BMI (data not shown).	Age, total energy intake, education, family history of breast cancer, BMI, height, parity, age at first live birth, age at menarche, menopausal hormone use, average weekday vigorous physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol use.
15) Smith-Warner SA. (2001)	Pooled Analysis of 8 Cohort Studies.	351,825	5-16	7,377?	Invasive breast cancer risk	Leguminosa (e.g. beans, peas)	INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) A published prospective study with at least 200 incident breast cancer cases. 2) Assessment of usual dietary intake. 3) A validation study of the diet assessment method or a closely related instrument. INCLUDED STUDIES (Follow-up years/No. of breast cancer cases): The Adventist Health Study (1976-1982/160). Mills PK, Beeson WL, Phillips RL. Dietary habits and breast cancer incidence among Seventh-day Adventists. Cancer. 1989 Aug 1;64(3):582-90. Abstract The Canadian National Breast Screening Study (1982-1987/419). Rohan TE, Howe GR, Friedenreich CM, Jain M, Miller AB. Dietary fiber, vitamins A, C, and E, and risk of breast cancer: a cohort study. Cancer Causes Control. 1993 Jan;4(1):29-37. Abstract The Iowa Women's Health Study (1986-1995/1130). Kushi LH, Fee RM, Sellers TA, Zheng W, Folsom AR. Intake of vitamins A, C, and E and postmenopausal breast cancer. The Iowa Women's Health Study. Am J Epidemiol. 1996 Jul 15;144(2):165-74. Full text The Netherlands Cohort Study (1986-1992/937). Verhoeven DT, Assen N, Goldbohm RA, Dorant E, van 't Veer P, Sturmans F. Vitamins C and E, retinol, beta-carotene and dietary fibre in relation to breast cancer risk: a prospective cohort study. Br J Cancer. 1997;75(1):149-55. Abstract The New York State Cohort (1980-1987/367). Graham S, Zielezny M, Marshall J, Priore R, Freudenheim J, Brasure J. Diet in the epidemiology of postmenopausal breast cancer in the New York State Cohort. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Dec 1;136(11):1327-37. Abstract The New York University Women's Health Study (1985-1994/386). Toniolo P, Riboli E, Shore RE, Pasternacks BS. Consumption of meat, animal products, protein, and fat and risk of breast cancer: a prospective cohort study in New York. Epidemiology. 1994 Jul;5(4):391-7. Abstract The Nurses' Health Study A + B (A = 1980-1986/1023. B = 1986-1996/1638). Zhang S, Hunter DJ, Forman MR, Rosner BA, Speizer FE, Colditz GA. Dietary carotenoids and vitamins A, C, and E and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999 Mar 17;91(6):547-56. Full text The Sweden Mammography Cohort (1987-1997/1318). Wolk A, Bergstrom R, Hunter D, Willet W, Ljung H, Holmberg L. A prospective study of association of monounsaturated fat and other types of fat with risk of breast cancer. Arch Intern Med. 1998 Jan 12;158(1):41-5. Full text RELATIVE RISK: No association: RR = 0.97 (0.87-1.08) per 100 g/day increment. P for heterogeneity in results across studies = 0.36. Menopausal status at follow-up did not modify the associations (no data shown).	Age at menarche, interaction between parity and age at birth of first child, oral contraceptive use (ever/never), history of benign breast disease, menopausal status at follow-up, postmenopausal hormone use, family history of breast cancer, smoking status (ever/never), education, BMI, BMI-menopausal status interaction, height, alcohol intake, and energy intake.
4) Fung TT. (2005)	The Nurses' Health Study.	71,058 postmenopausal women. (USA)	1984-2000	512?	estrogen receptor negative (ER-) breast cancer risk	Legumes (tofu, string bean, peas, beans/lentils)	RR = 0.82 (0.48-1.40) for the highest vs lowest quartile of consumption. Amount specific data (servings): < 1/week: RR = 1. 2-3/week: RR = 0.88 (0.62-1.25). 4-6/week: RR = 0.79 (0.51-1.22). 2-3.9/day: RR = 0.82 (0.48-1.40).	age, smoking status (never, past, current + amount), BMI, multivitamin, energy, physical activity in METs, family history of breast cancer, history of benign breast disease, duration of menopause, age at menopause, age at menopause and use of hormone replacement therapy, age at menarche, parity and age at first birth, BMI at age 18, weight change since age 18, adult height and alcohol intake.

Author

Cohort name

Subjects

Years of follow-up

Cases

End point

Consumption of

Relative Risk (RR)

Adjustments

36) Iso H (2007)

The JACC Study.

57,985 women.
(Japan)

Not defined.

Breast cancer mortality

Boiled beans (not defined)

HR = 1.41 (0.80-2.49) for the highest vs lowest tertile of consumption.

Amount specific data:
< 1/w: HR = 1.
1-2/w: HR = 1.02 (0.57-1.81).
≥ 3/w: HR = 1.41 (0.80-2.49).

Age and study area.

29) Velie EM. (2005)

The Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project.

23,183 women aged 40-91 with a BMI < 25. (USA)

8 (1987-89 to 1997)

1,024

Breast cancer risk
(including in situ cases)

Beans and legumes (pinto, lima, and kidney), baked and cooked

RH = 0.79 (0.66-0.95; P = 0.02) for the highest vs lowest quartile of consumption.

Amount specific data (Quartiles not defined):
Never eat: RH = 1.
Q2: RH = 0.90 (0.75-1.07).
Q3: RH = 0.84 (0.70-1.00).
Q4: RH = 0.79 (0.66-0.95).

Similar although less significant results were observed in the full sample of all study participants (40,599 women/ 1,868 cases) regardless of BMI (data not shown).

Age, total energy intake, education, family history of breast cancer, BMI, height, parity, age at first live birth, age at menarche, menopausal hormone use, average weekday vigorous physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol use.

15) Smith-Warner SA. (2001)

Pooled Analysis of 8 Cohort Studies.

351,825

5-16

7,377?

Invasive breast cancer risk

Leguminosa (e.g. beans, peas)

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1) A published prospective study with at least 200 incident breast cancer cases.
2) Assessment of usual dietary intake.
3) A validation study of the diet assessment method or a closely related instrument.

INCLUDED STUDIES (Follow-up years/No. of breast cancer cases):

The Adventist Health Study (1976-1982/160).
Mills PK, Beeson WL, Phillips RL. Dietary habits and breast cancer incidence among Seventh-day Adventists. Cancer. 1989 Aug 1;64(3):582-90. Abstract
The Canadian National Breast Screening Study (1982-1987/419).
Rohan TE, Howe GR, Friedenreich CM, Jain M, Miller AB. Dietary fiber, vitamins A, C, and E, and risk of breast cancer: a cohort study. Cancer Causes Control. 1993 Jan;4(1):29-37. Abstract
The Iowa Women's Health Study (1986-1995/1130).
Kushi LH, Fee RM, Sellers TA, Zheng W, Folsom AR. Intake of vitamins A, C, and E and postmenopausal breast cancer. The Iowa Women's Health Study. Am J Epidemiol. 1996 Jul 15;144(2):165-74. Full text
The Netherlands Cohort Study (1986-1992/937).
Verhoeven DT, Assen N, Goldbohm RA, Dorant E, van 't Veer P, Sturmans F. Vitamins C and E, retinol, beta-carotene and dietary fibre in relation to breast cancer risk: a prospective cohort study. Br J Cancer. 1997;75(1):149-55. Abstract
The New York State Cohort (1980-1987/367).
Graham S, Zielezny M, Marshall J, Priore R, Freudenheim J, Brasure J. Diet in the epidemiology of postmenopausal breast cancer in the New York State Cohort. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Dec 1;136(11):1327-37. Abstract
The New York University Women's Health Study (1985-1994/386).
Toniolo P, Riboli E, Shore RE, Pasternacks BS. Consumption of meat, animal products, protein, and fat and risk of breast cancer: a prospective cohort study in New York. Epidemiology. 1994 Jul;5(4):391-7. Abstract
The Nurses' Health Study A + B (A = 1980-1986/1023. B = 1986-1996/1638).
Zhang S, Hunter DJ, Forman MR, Rosner BA, Speizer FE, Colditz GA. Dietary carotenoids and vitamins A, C, and E and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999 Mar 17;91(6):547-56. Full text
The Sweden Mammography Cohort (1987-1997/1318).
Wolk A, Bergstrom R, Hunter D, Willet W, Ljung H, Holmberg L. A prospective study of association of monounsaturated fat and other types of fat with risk of breast cancer. Arch Intern Med. 1998 Jan 12;158(1):41-5. Full text

RELATIVE RISK:

No association: RR = 0.97 (0.87-1.08) per 100 g/day increment.

P for heterogeneity in results across studies = 0.36.

Menopausal status at follow-up did not modify the associations (no data shown).

Age at menarche, interaction between parity and age at birth of first child, oral contraceptive use (ever/never), history of benign breast disease, menopausal status at follow-up, postmenopausal hormone use, family history of breast cancer, smoking status (ever/never), education, BMI, BMI-menopausal status interaction, height, alcohol intake, and energy intake.

4) Fung TT. (2005)

The Nurses' Health Study.

71,058 postmenopausal women.
(USA)

1984-2000

512?

estrogen receptor negative (ER-) breast cancer risk

Legumes (tofu, string bean, peas, beans/lentils)

RR = 0.82 (0.48-1.40) for the highest vs lowest quartile of consumption.

Amount specific data (servings):
< 1/week: RR = 1.
2-3/week: RR = 0.88 (0.62-1.25).
4-6/week: RR = 0.79 (0.51-1.22).
2-3.9/day: RR = 0.82 (0.48-1.40).

age, smoking status (never, past, current + amount), BMI, multivitamin, energy, physical activity in METs, family history of breast cancer, history of benign breast disease, duration of menopause, age at menopause, age at menopause and use of hormone replacement therapy, age at menarche, parity and age at first birth, BMI at age 18, weight change since age 18, adult height and alcohol intake.

Cancer & Diet. A systematic review.

Literature review.

Relating various aspects of our diet
to breast cancer risk & mortality.

Legumes (pulses) and breast cancer.

Cancer & Diet. A systematic review.

Literature review.

Relating various aspects of our dietto breast cancer risk & mortality.

Legumes (pulses) and breast cancer.

Relating various aspects of our diet
to breast cancer risk & mortality.