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BMC Women's Health
Published in: BMC Women's Health 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Lifelong vegetarianism and breast cancer risk: a large multicentre case control study in India

Authors: Toral Gathani, Isobel Barnes, Raghib Ali, Rajkumar Arumugham, Raju Chacko, Raghunadharao Digumarti, Parimal Jivarajani, Ravi Kannan, Dasappa Loknatha, Hemant Malhotra, Beela S. Mathew, on behalf of the INDOX Cancer Research Network Collaborators

Published in: BMC Women's Health | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

The lower incidence of breast cancer in Asian populations where the intake of animal products is lower than that of Western populations has led some to suggest that a vegetarian diet might reduce breast cancer risk.

Methods

Between 2011 and 2014 we conducted a multicentre hospital based case—control study in eight cancer centres in India. Eligible cases were women aged 30–70 years, with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer (ICD10 C50). Controls were frequency matched to the cases by age and region of residence and chosen from the accompanying attendants of the patients with cancer or those patients in the general hospital without cancer. Information about dietary, lifestyle, reproductive and socio-demographic factors were collected using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for the risk of breast cancer in relation to lifelong vegetarianism, adjusting for known risk factors for the disease.

Results

The study included 2101 cases and 2255 controls. The mean age at recruitment was similar in cases (49.7 years (SE 9.7)) and controls (49.8 years (SE 9.1)). About a quarter of the population were lifelong vegetarians and the rates varied significantly by region. On multivariate analysis, with adjustment for known risk factors for the disease, the risk of breast cancer was not decreased in lifelong vegetarians (OR 1.09 (95% CI 0.93-1.29)).

Conclusions

Lifelong exposure to a vegetarian diet appears to have little, if any effect on the risk of breast cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Lifelong vegetarianism and breast cancer risk: a large multicentre case control study in India
Authors
Toral Gathani
Isobel Barnes
Raghib Ali
Rajkumar Arumugham
Raju Chacko
Raghunadharao Digumarti
Parimal Jivarajani
Ravi Kannan
Dasappa Loknatha
Hemant Malhotra
Beela S. Mathew
on behalf of the INDOX Cancer Research Network Collaborators
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Women's Health / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6874
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-016-0357-8

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Correction

Correction to: The Cedar Project: Using Indigenous-specific determinants of health to predict substance use among young pregnant-involved Indigenous women in Canada