Table 10.
Summary of nutrient relationships with breast density and their proposed mechanisms.
| Nutrients that are associated with an ↑ in breast density (absolute density or % breast density) | |
|---|---|
| Premenopausal women: | mechanism of action (i.e., IGF/IGFBP/E2/ROS) |
| Higher intakes of | |
| Total fat | ↑↓IGF, ↓IGFBP, May ↑Estrogen |
| SFA (?) | ↓IGFBP, ↑IGF, May ↑Estrogen |
| MUFAs | ↓IGFBP, ↑IGF, May ↑Estrogen |
| n-6 FA | ↓IGFBP, ↑IGF, May ↑Estrogen |
| PUFA | ↑IGF, ↓IGFBP, May ↑Estrogen |
| PUFA : SFA | ↑IGF, ↓IGFBP, May ↑Estrogen (?) |
| Vitamin C (supplemental) | ? |
| Wine | ↑Estrogen metabolites, ↑Estrogen responsiveness, ↓SHBG, ↑IGF, ↓IGFBP ↑Oxidative stress |
| Overall alcohol consumption | ↑Estrogen metabolites, ↑Estrogen responsiveness, ↓SHBG, ↑IGF, ↓IGFBP ↑Oxidative stress |
| MVMM supplements | MAY ↑IGF, ↑IGFBP |
| Total energy (excess consumed in midlife may affect densities in later life or restriction early in life) | ↑Estrogen, ↑IGF availability, ↑DNA replication rate & ↓apoptosis |
| Lower intakes of | |
| Carbohydrates | ↑IGF (Need to distinguish between whole v. refined, many studies do not do this) |
| Fiber | ↓Oxidative stress (?), may ↑SHBG, ↑IGFBP |
| Carotene | ↓Oxidative stress (?), ↑IGFBP |
| Calcium | Ameliorates IGF action & enhances IGFBP action (see paper in review), ↑IGF (?) |
| Protein | Veg Pro = ↑IGFBP |
| Total Pro = ↑IGF | |
| Total fat | ↓IGFBP, ↑↓IGF, May ↑Estrogen |
| Saturated fat | ↓IGFBP, ↑IGF, May ↑Estrogen |
| Vitamin B12 (supplemental) | ? |
| White wine | ↑Estrogen metabolites, ↑Estrogen responsiveness, ↓SHBG, ↑IGF, ↓IGFBP ↑Oxidative stress |
| Meat | ↑Oxidative stress |
| Carbohydrates (?) | ↑IGF (Need to distinguish between whole versus refined, many studies do not do this) |
| Total energy | ↑Estrogen, ↑IGF availability, ↑DNA replication rate & ↓apoptosis |