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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 4/2012

Open Access 01-08-2012 | Research article

Height, adiposity and body fat distribution and breast density in young women

Authors: Joanne F Dorgan, Catherine Klifa, John A Shepherd, Brian L Egleston, Peter O Kwiterovich Jr, John H Himes, Kelley Pettee Gabriel, Linda Van Horn, Linda G Snetselaar, Victor J Stevens, Bruce A Barton, Alan M Robson, Norman L Lasser, Snehal Deshmukh, Nola M Hylton

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 4/2012

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Abstract

Introduction

Breast density is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer, but determinants of breast density in young women remain largely unknown.

Methods

Associations of height, adiposity and body fat distribution with percentage dense breast volume (%DBV) and absolute dense breast volume (ADBV) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 174 healthy women, 25 to 29 years old. Adiposity and body fat distribution were measured by anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while %DBV and ADBV were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Associations were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models. All tests of statistical significance are two-sided.

Results

Height was significantly positively associated with %DBV but not ADBV; for each standard deviation (SD) increase in height, %DBV increased by 18.7% in adjusted models. In contrast, all measures of adiposity and body fat distribution were significantly inversely associated with %DBV; a SD increase in body mass index (BMI), percentage fat mass, waist circumference and the android:gynoid fat mass ratio (A:G ratio) was each associated significantly with a 44.4 to 47.0% decrease in %DBV after adjustment for childhood BMI and other covariates. Although associations were weaker than for %DBV, all measures of adiposity and body fat distribution also were significantly inversely associated with ADBV before adjustment for childhood BMI. After adjustment for childhood BMI, however, only the DXA measures of percentage fat mass and A:G ratio remained significant; a SD increase in each was associated with a 13.8 to 19.6% decrease in ADBV. In mutually adjusted analysis, the percentage fat mass and the A:G ratio remained significantly inversely associated with %DBV, but only the A:G ratio was significantly associated with ADBV; a SD increase in the A:G ratio was associated with an 18.5% decrease in ADBV.

Conclusion

Total adiposity and body fat distribution are independently inversely associated with %DBV, whereas in mutually adjusted analysis only body fat distribution (A:G ratio) remained significantly inversely associated with ADBV in young women. Research is needed to identify biological mechanisms underlying these associations.
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Metadata
Title
Height, adiposity and body fat distribution and breast density in young women
Authors
Joanne F Dorgan
Catherine Klifa
John A Shepherd
Brian L Egleston
Peter O Kwiterovich Jr
John H Himes
Kelley Pettee Gabriel
Linda Van Horn
Linda G Snetselaar
Victor J Stevens
Bruce A Barton
Alan M Robson
Norman L Lasser
Snehal Deshmukh
Nola M Hylton
Publication date
01-08-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 4/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr3228

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