Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Lifelong vegetarianism and breast cancer risk: a large multicentre case contr ol study in 
India  
 
Version: 0 Date: 18 Nov 2016 
 
Reviewer:  Giuseppe  Grosso  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
The present st udy explored the relation between lifelong vegetarianism and breast cancer 
occurrence: the authors conducted a case -control study in India providing new and interesting 
information on the topic, adding evidence on a population never studied before.  
 
The stu dy is well conducted, the article well written. Overall, i consider the paper suitable to be 
published.  
 
 
I just suggest a couple of minor revisions:  
 
In the introduction or at the beginning of the discussion, when summarizing the results of the 
present stud y, i suggest to add a recent meta -analysis showing no decreased risk of breast cancer 
in vegetarian women, thus confirming the results of the study (please add "the results of the 
present study are in line with results of a recent meta -analysis of prospect ive cohort studies 
showing no significant decreased risk of breast cancer in vegetarian women compared to non -
vegetarian [ref. PubMed PMID: 27709695]").  
 
Page 9, please start the sentence with words, not numbers (i.e., the 88%).  
 
Are the met hods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistic s in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statis tics 
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interest s? 
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interest s. 
 
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