Nutrition and female breast tumors

: This review presents current knowledge of diet and breast cancer. In the first part it reviews current knowledge of nutritional risk factors. Obesity, total energy intake, intake of saturated fatty acids and alcohol were considered as high risk factors for breast cancer in the past. In addition to these factors intake of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been discussed. Possible differences between their carcinogenic activity are summarized. The mechanisms of promotion and inhibition are described in the present review. In the second part there protective nutritional factors are reviewed: fiber, antioxidant micronutrients (vitamin C, vitamin b-A, carotene and other carotenoids, vitamin E, antioxidant trace elements), n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, olive oil and oestrogen compounds of plant origin. Influence of several diet components can not be considered individually. Nutrition has to be taken into account as a whole complex of protective and risk components. It is necessary to increase the intake of probably protective nutrients and minimize all cancer risk factors including nutrition. (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 181.)