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Dietary fiber and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies

  1. T. Norat1
  1. 1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London
  2. 2Biostatistics Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
  1. ↵*Correspondence to: D. Aune, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, Paddington, London W2 1PG, UK. Tel: +44-20-7594-8478; Fax: +44-20-7594-0768; E-mail: d.aune{at}imperial.ac.uk
  • Received October 4, 2011.
  • Revision received November 18, 2011.
  • Accepted November 21, 2011.

Abstract

Background: Evidence from case–control studies suggest that dietary fiber may be inversely related to breast cancer risk, but it is unclear if this is supported by prospective data. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence from prospective studies.

Methods: PubMed was searched for prospective studies of fiber intake and breast cancer risk until 31st August 2011. Random effects models were used to estimate summary relative risks (RRs).

Results: Sixteen prospective studies were included. The summary RR for the highest versus the lowest intake was 0.93 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–0.98, I2 = 0%] for dietary fiber, 0.95 (95% CI 0.86–1.06, I2 = 4%) for fruit fiber, 0.99 (95% CI 0.92–1.07, I2 = 1%) for vegetable fiber, 0.96 (95% CI 0.90–1.02, I2 = 5%) for cereal fiber, 0.91 (95% CI 0.84–0.99, I2 = 7%) for soluble fiber and 0.95 (95% CI 0.89–1.02, I2 = 0%) for insoluble fiber. The summary RR per 10 g/day of dietary fiber was 0.95 (95% CI 0.91–0.98, I2 = 0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.82). In stratified analyses, the inverse association was only observed among studies with a large range (≥13 g/day) or high level of intake (≥25 g/day).

Conclusion: In this meta-analysis of prospective studies, there was an inverse association between dietary fiber intake and breast cancer risk.

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This Article

  1. Ann Oncol doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdr589 First published online: January 10, 2012
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