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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Polyunsaturated fatty acid interactions and breast cancer incidence: a population-based case-control study on Long Island, New York.

Authors: Khankari, Nikhil K; Bradshaw, Patrick T; Steck, Susan E; He, Ka; Olshan, Andrew F; Shen, Jing; Ahn, Jiyoung; Chen, Yu; Ahsan, Habibul; Terry, Mary Beth; Teitelbaum, Susan L; Neugut, Alfred I; Santella, Regina M; Gammon, Marilie D

Published In Ann Epidemiol, (2015 Dec)

Abstract: Experimental studies demonstrate that ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) inhibit inflammatory eicosanoids generated by ω-6 PUFAs. Epidemiologic studies on dietary ω-3 PUFA intake show consistent inverse associations with breast cancer incidence among Asian populations, where ω-3, relative to ω-6, intake is high. In contrast, associations are inconsistent among Western populations, where intake of ω-3, relative to ω-6, is low. We hypothesized that examining interactions between ω-3 and ω-6 would help elucidate the PUFA-breast cancer association in the United States.In a Long Island, New York, population-based study of 1463 breast cancer cases and 1500 controls, we estimated multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using unconditional logistic regression to examine interactions between ω-3 and ω-6 intake.We observed a super-additive interaction (relative excess risk due to interaction = 0.41; 95% confidence interval = 0.06-0.76) between ω-3 and ω-6 intake in association with breast cancer incidence, although the CIs for the joint exposure of low ω-3/high ω-6 compared to high ω-3/low ω-6 intake were wide (odds ratio = 1.20; 95% confidence interval = 0.85-1.69).Breast cancer risk reduction may be possible for U.S. women with dietary consumption of higher ω-3, which has anti-inflammatory properties, in concert with lower ω-6, which induces inflammation. Replication from future U.S.-based investigations is needed.

PubMed ID: 26452606 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast Neoplasms/diet therapy*; Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology; Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control*; Case-Control Studies; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage*; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/blood*; Fatty Acids, Omega-6/administration & dosage*; Fatty Acids, Omega-6/blood*; Female; Humans; Incidence; Middle Aged; New York/epidemiology; Odds Ratio; Risk Assessment; Seafood*; Young Adult

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