Long-Term Whole Grain Wheat and Rye Intake Reflected by Adipose Tissue Alkylresorcinols and Breast Cancer: A Case-Cohort Study

Abstract

Whole grain rye (WGR) and whole grain wheat (WGW) have been suggested to protect against the development of breast cancer. In this study, we estimated long-term intake of WGR and WGW, using both a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and alkylresorcinol concentrations in adipose tissue biopsies, in relation to the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in a case-cohort study (n = 414 in the case group, n = 933 in the subcohort group) on the Danish “Diet, Cancer and Health” cohort. The median follow-up time of the subcohort was 5.3 years. Total WGR and WGW intake estimated with FFQ or reflected by total alkylresorcinol concentration in adipose tissue was not significantly associated with risk of breast cancer. However, after adjustment for total WGR and WGW intake, women in the highest quartile of relative WGR intake, reflected by the alkylresorcinol C17:0/C21:0 ratio, had a higher risk of overall breast cancer and estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer than women in the lowest quartile of relative WGR intake, while the risk of estrogen-receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer incidence was unaffected. Similar results were obtained with the FFQ data. Based on these data, further investigation of the role of specific grain types in reducing or increasing breast cancer risk, and their overall impact on health, is warranted.

Plant Food, Nutrition, and Human Health

“…An epidemiological study also assessed the role of (poly)phenols and (poly)phenol-rich foods in the prevention of breast cancer. In detail, Wu et al [ 15 ] evaluated whether long-term intake of whole-grain rye and whole-grain wheat, estimated using both a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and alkylresorcinol concentrations in adipose tissue biopsies, was related to the risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the Danish “Diet, Cancer, and Health” cohort. The consumption of both cereals was not associated with the risk of breast cancer for the whole population; however, after intake adjustment, women in the highest quartile of relative whole-grain rye intake exhibited a higher risk of overall and estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer than women in the lowest quartile.…”

“…The consumption of both cereals was not associated with the risk of breast cancer for the whole population; however, after intake adjustment, women in the highest quartile of relative whole-grain rye intake exhibited a higher risk of overall and estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer than women in the lowest quartile. The risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer incidence was unaffected by rye consumption [ 15 ]. These results are of interest and deserve further research to understand the role of specific cereals in reducing or increasing breast cancer risk.…”