Dietary Glycaemic Index, Glycaemic Load and Breast Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): H G Mulholland, L J Murray, C R Cardwell, M M Cantwell
Primary Institution: Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Group, Centre for Clinical and Population Sciences, Queens University Belfast
Hypothesis
Is there an association between dietary glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) intake and breast cancer risk?
Conclusion
The study found no strong support for an association between dietary GI and GL and breast cancer risk.
Supporting Evidence
- Combined estimates from six cohort studies show non-significant increased breast cancer risks for premenopausal women.
- Evidence of heterogeneity hindered analyses of GL and premenopausal risk.
- Pooled cohort study results indicated no association between postmenopausal risk and GL intake.
Takeaway
Eating foods with a high glycaemic index or load doesn't seem to increase the risk of getting breast cancer.
Methodology
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies examining the relationship between dietary GI, GL, and breast cancer risk.
Potential Biases
Possible publication bias was indicated in the funnel plots for GL and premenopausal breast cancer risk.
Limitations
The studies included varied in quality and dietary assessment methods, and many did not adjust for all potential confounders.
Participant Demographics
The studies included both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, with a mix of cohort and case-control designs.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.95–1.38 for premenopausal and 95% CI 0.99–1.25 for postmenopausal women consuming the highest GI.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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