Breast Cancer Risk Might Be Affected by Grandmother's Diet During Pregnancy
Posted May 04 2010 6:30am
Research has shown us over and over that diet and lifestyle choices impact our health in many ways, including breast cancer risk. However, new research presented at the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research ( Abstract #2931 ) suggests that what women eat during pregnancy might impact their daughter's and granddaughter's breast cancer risk.
For this study, breast cancer researchers fed rats one of three diets during pregnancy: (1) a control diet (17% energy from fat), (2) a high-fat diet rich in omega-6 fatty acids (43% energy from fat), or (3) an estradiol-supplemented diet. After giving birth, all of rats were fed the control diet. After weaning, the pups were also fed a control diet throughout the duration of the study, including during their own pregnancy. Breast cancer incidence after exposure to a chemical carcinogen was examined in both the daughters and granddaughters. The breast cancer researchers reported that
The structure of the breast tissue changed in both daughters and granddaughters of rats fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy.
Breast tumor incidence, the number of tumors developed, and overall tumor burden were substantially increased in daughters of rats fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy.
Granddaughters of rats fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy also had a substantially increased breast cancer incidence.
This is fascinating research that suggests what a woman eats during pregnancy might not only affect her child, but also her child's children. According to a related press release , the breast cancer risk in granddaughters was increased by about 30% if both grandmothers were fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy and was increased by about 19% if only one grandmother was fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy. A separate press release further indicates not only is this increased breast cancer risk passed from mother to daughter to granddaughter, but also from mother to son to granddaughter.
While a diet from which 43% of the energy comes from fat is well above the recommend level of dietary fat consumption, it is not well above what many of us eat on a regular basis. This study is a great reminder for us to remain aware of what we consume and how it can impact our own health as well as the health of our progeny.
For this study, breast cancer researchers fed rats one of three diets during pregnancy: (1) a control diet (17% energy from fat), (2) a high-fat diet rich in omega-6 fatty acids (43% energy from fat), or (3) an estradiol-supplemented diet. After giving birth, all of rats were fed the control diet. After weaning, the pups were also fed a control diet throughout the duration of the study, including during their own pregnancy. Breast cancer incidence after exposure to a chemical carcinogen was examined in both the daughters and granddaughters. The breast cancer researchers reported that
- The structure of the breast tissue changed in both daughters and granddaughters of rats fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy.
- Breast tumor incidence, the number of tumors developed, and overall tumor burden were substantially increased in daughters of rats fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy.
- Granddaughters of rats fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy also had a substantially increased breast cancer incidence.
This is fascinating research that suggests what a woman eats during pregnancy might not only affect her child, but also her child's children. According to a related press release , the breast cancer risk in granddaughters was increased by about 30% if both grandmothers were fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy and was increased by about 19% if only one grandmother was fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy. A separate press release further indicates not only is this increased breast cancer risk passed from mother to daughter to granddaughter, but also from mother to son to granddaughter.While a diet from which 43% of the energy comes from fat is well above the recommend level of dietary fat consumption, it is not well above what many of us eat on a regular basis. This study is a great reminder for us to remain aware of what we consume and how it can impact our own health as well as the health of our progeny.
There are many diet and lifestyle changes we can embrace to reduce breast cancer risk. Read my book Fight Now: Eat & Live Proactively Against Breast Cancer to learn more.