It has been theorized that dietary fat increases the risk of breast cancer by elevating the amount of estrogen and related sex hormones in the body. But most medical studies on total fat intake and breast cancer risk have been inconclusive. Medical School in Los Angeles say cutting fat calories may reduce the risk of breast cancer. The researchers in the NCI article pooled the results of 13 different studies on breast cancer and diet to come up with their findings. Dr. Michelle Holmes, who led the 14-year study contradicted by the NCI journal article, sees a problem with the USC research.
Some fats are susceptible to production of free radicals, toxic molecules that damage cells.
If free radical damage overwhelms your body's natural defenses, damage may contribute to aging and certain diseases such as cancer. In an accompanying editorial in the NCI journal, the authors noted there are many factors to consider when evaluating how diets affect health. They recommend that in future studies researchers need to consider other factors such as intake of fat, fiber, total energy and changes in subject weight. Researchers for USC were not available for comment. In last week's JAMA article, researchers of Harvard University Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found no evidence that a low-fat diet helps reduce a woman's risk of breast cancer.