Is Usual Dietary Pattern Related to the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer?

Dietary patterns capture total diet providing a more comprehensive understanding of the effect of diet on chronic disease risk. Dietary patterns have been associated with several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and selected cancers; however, the association with breast cancer remains unclear. The objective of this review was to examine critically the most recent literature on dietary patterns and breast cancer and report on current results, new developments, and future directions. Seven case-control and cohort studies from multiple countries have been published during the previous year (2011-2012). Many have analyzed a posteriori dietary patterns via factor and principal component analysis. Whereas results remain mixed, the majority of studies indicate healthier patterns decrease breast cancer risk, although patterns higher in meat and alcohol increase risk. Future studies that examine the associations between diet and tumor subtypes and collect dietary data at younger ages and, if possible, longitudinally would be beneficial.