Fatty acid composition of breast adipose tissue in breast cancer patients and in patients with benign breast disease

Abstract

Fatty acid composition of triglycerides (TGs) and phospholipids (PLs) in breast adipose tissue was analyzed in 73 female breast cancer patients and 55 patients with benign breast disease. No differences were observed in the dietary intake of the major fatty acids (i.e., palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids) or in the proportion of TGs and PLs in breast adipose tissue between the two groups. In postmenopausal women, however, the dietary intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) was significantly lower in the breast cancer patients than in patients with benign breast disease. Accordingly, the percentage of docosahexaenoic acid of PLs in breast adipose tissue was significantly lower in breast cancer patients than in patients with benign breast disease among postmenopausal women. The stage of the breast cancer did not contribute to the observed alterations of fatty acid composition of PLs. Consonant with the previous epidemiologic data, the present results suggest that intake of the long-chain n-3 fatty acids (mainly derived from fish) may have a protective effect against breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women.

Opposing effects of dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids on mammary carcinogenesis: The Singapore Chinese Health Study

“…Since only 30% of the cases included in our study were diagnosed in premenopausal women, the weaker associations in this subgroup may be a chance finding due to small numbers. However, one study (Zhu et al, 1995) found significantly lower levels of DHA in breast adipose tissue only in postmenopausal patients compared to controls with benign breast disease. Similarly, the stronger associations in advanced cases of breast cancer may be a chance finding.…”

“…Results of these latter studies are mixed. Some (Zhu et al, 1995;Maillard et al, 2002) but not all (London et al, 1993;Petrek et al, 1994;Simonsen et al, 1998) studies found a protective effect. Six cohort studies, in Norway (Vatten et al, 1990), Japan (Key et al, 1999), and in the US (Stampfer et al, 1987;Toniolo et al, 1994;Gertig et al, 1999;Holmes et al, 1999), have investigated fish or marine n-3 fatty acid intake.…”

Adipose Tissue Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acid Content and Breast Cancer in the EURAMIC Study

“…The preponderance of ecologic studies supports an inverse relation of fish consumption with breast cancer (33,34). While case-control and cohort studies are less consistent (35)(36)(37), many recent studies report a statistically significant negative association between estimated consumption of fish or other seafood and postmenopausal disease (38)(39)(40)(41)(42).…”

Beck Depression Inventory as a Predictor of Long-term Outcome Among Patients Admitted to the Breast Cancer Diagnosis Unit: A 25-year Cohort Study in Finland

“…Hormonal factors, such as early age at menarche, later age at menopause, later age at first full-term pregnancy and hormone replacement therapy, are known to be the main risk factors for sporadic . In addition, life-style factors, such as obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of physical activity, appear to contribute to an increased risk for this malignancy, although the results concerning such factors are inconsistent (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). …”