BREAST CANCER: UPDATE ON A GROWING EPIDEMIC

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BREAST CANCER: UPDATE ON A GROWING EPIDEMIC

JoAnn Guest

Dec 13, 2004 22:39 PST

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BREAST CANCER: UPDATE ON A GROWING EPIDEMIC

Introduction

 

It is currently estimated that one out of 7 women in the United States

will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This statistic produces a

harrowing chill in all women as virtually every American has known

someone who has been struck by this deadly killer. More than 150,000 new

cases are detected and more than 50,000 deaths occur each year in the

United States.

 

Causes of breast cancer

 

The rate of breast cancer is typically 5 times higher for women in the

United States compared to women in other parts of the world. Genetics

are an important risk factor, but in most cases a genetic predisposition

is secondary to dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors. In other

words, breast cancer risk is largely a result of diet and lifestyle. It

is interesting to note that in Japan the rate of breast cancer is about

1/5th the rate in the United States, but in second or third generation

Japanese women living in America who eat the Standard American Diet

(SAD) the rate of breast cancer is identical to other women living in

the United States.1 Table 1 provides a list of factors that have been

linked to breast cancer.

 

Table 1. Possible Causes of Breast Cancer Genetic factors

Hormonal factors (increased estrogen exposure)

Early onset of menstruation

Pregnancy late in life or no pregnancy

Late menopause

Shorter menstrual cycles

Environmental factors

 

 

Xenoestrogens (synthetic compounds which mimic estrogen)

Pesticides, herbicides, halogenated compounds, etc.

Lack of sunlight

Power lines, electric blankets, radiation, etc.

 

Iatrogenic (Doctor induced)

Oral contraceptives

Hormone replacement therapy

Radiation (diagnostic and therapeutic)

Chemotherapy

 

 

Lifestyle factors

 

Exposure to cigarette smoke

Body weight (the more overweight you are, the greater the risk)

Exercise level (women who exercise have a reduced rate)

Alcohol and coffee consumption

 

 

Dietary factors

 

Increased saturated fat

Decreased antioxidants

Decreased dietary fiber

Decreased alpha-linolenic acid and omega-3 fatty acids

Decreased " phytoestrogens "

 

 

Dietary Factors in the Prevention of Breast Cancer

 

Dietary factors appear to be one of the critical aspects in the

prevention of breast cancer. The research is a bit muddy because

investigators often look only to dietary factors in the United States.

For example, let's take a look at the research on saturated fats and

breast cancer. It is difficult to determine true risk when looking at

women in the United States because the lowest percentile for saturated

fat intake in the United States often translates to the highest

percentile in other countries. To gauge all dietary risk factors in

breast cancer it is extremely important to examine data from a global

perspective. This assessment was done recently. The results provide some

sound evidence as to what dietary factors appear to promote breast

cancer and those that appear to be preventive. Table 2 lists these

factors in descending order.

 

Table 2 - Results from a Multi-National Study

Dietary factors linked to causing breast cancer

Animal foods

Meats

Total fat

Saturated fats

Dairy

Refined sugar

Total calories

Alcohol

Dietary factors linked to preventing breast cancer

Fish

Whole grains

Legumes

Cabbage

Vegetables

Nuts

Fruits

 

One of the most interesting aspects of the population study was the

tremendous protective effect of fish consumption. Fish, particularly

cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel, halibut, and herring, are rich

sources of the omega-3 fatty acids. This group of fats have shown

tremendous anticancer effects against breast cancer in experimental

studies. In contrast, the omega-6 fatty acids found in most animal

products as well as common vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, and

soy, are associated with promoting breast cancer in experimental

studies.2

 

Flaxseed Oil: Protection

 

In addition to a diet which features fish, supplementing the diet with

flaxseed oil appears to offer significant protection against breast

cancer for a couple of different reasons. First of all, flaxseed oil

contains nearly twice the level of omega-3 fatty acids as fish oils. In

one study, 121 women with initially localized breast cancer examined the

association between the levels of various fatty acids in the fatty

tissue of the breast and how much the cancer had spread (metastasized).3

Breast tissue analyzed at the time of surgery indicated a low level of

alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n3), the key fatty acid found in flaxseed oil,

was associated with the spread of the cancer into the lymph nodes of the

armpit as well as tumor invasiveness.

 

After 31 months of follow-up after the initial surgery, 21 patients

developed metastases of their cancer into other body tissues. Low levels

of alpha-linolenic acid was the first determinant of metastases in these

patients. In other words, when all factors were considered, low levels

of alpha-linolenic acid was found to be the most significant contributor

to the spread of cancer. Since the main cause of death in breast cancer

patients is the development of cancer in other tissues, the significance

of this finding is of extreme importance. The results from this study

suggest that supplementing the diet with flaxseed oil (approximately 58%

alpha-linolenic acid) may help prevent breast cancer, tumor

invasiveness, and metastasis.

 

Flaxseed: Nature's Richest Source of Lignans

 

In addition to alpha-linolenic acid, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are also

the most abundant sources of lignans. These components are fiber

compounds that are capable of binding to estrogen-receptors and

interfering with the cancer-promoting effects of estrogen on breast

tissue. Exposure to estrogens are a major risk factor for breast cancer.

Therefore, foods containing " phytoestrogens " - plant compounds capable

of binding to estrogen receptors - such as soy and whole grains are

thought to protect against breast cancer by occupying estrogen receptors

on breast cells. In addition to competing with estrogen for binding

sites on breast cells lignans increase the production of a compound

known as sex hormone binding globulin that regulates estrogen levels by

escorting excess estrogen from the body. Population studies, as well as

experimental studies in humans and animals, have demonstrated that

lignans exert significant anticancer effects. In an animal experiments,

flaxseed oil or flaxseed demonstrate significant reduction (e.g.,

greater than 50% reduction) in tumor numbers and size after one to two

months.4

 

The Glucuronidase Factor

 

One of the key ways in which the body gets rid of estrogen is via

attaching glucuronic acid to the estrogen in the liver and then

excreting this complex in the bile. Glucuronidase is a bacterial enzyme

that uncouples (breaks) the bond between excreted estrogen and

glucuronic acid. Not surprising is the finding that excess glucuronidase

activity is associated with an increased cancer risk, particularly

estrogen-dependent breast cancer. The activity of this enzyme is

increased when the diet is high in fat and low in fiber. The level of

glucuronidase activity may be one of the key underlying factors

explaining why certain dietary factors cause breast cancer and why other

dietary factors are preventive.

 

The activity of glucuronidase be reduced by establishing a proper

bacterial flora by eating a diet high in plant foods and supplementing

the diet with the " friendly bacteria " Lactobacillus acidophilus and

Bifidobacterium bifidum. Other dietary factors which can dramatically

reduce the activity of this enzyme are the consumption of onion and

garlic, and foods high in glucaric acid like apples, brussel sprouts,

broccoli, cabbage, and lettuce.

 

Glucaric acid in a pill form, calcium D-glucarate may turn out to be the

" magic bullet " in the prevention of breast cancer, especially in women

who have already battled breast cancer. Preliminary research is quite

encouraging.5 Currently, women with a history of breast cancer are

prescribed the drug tamoxifen. This drug is associated with numerous

side effects and is quite controversial in its overall effectiveness. In

contrast, calcium D-glucarate is completely safe and, if preliminary

results hold true, more effective. Calcium D-glucarate is currently

being investigated at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New

York. It is just entering the health food market as well.

 

Final Comments

 

Given the epidemic nature of breast cancer, it is essential that every

woman in America take steps to learn how they can prevent this often

deadly disease. Primary prevention involves reducing controllable risk

factors, adhering to a healthful lifestyle, eating a diet consisting

primarily of protective factors, consuming one tablespoon of flaxseed

oil daily, and taking additional antioxidant nutrients (e.g., vitamin C:

minimum 500 mg day; vitamin E: minimum 400 IU day). In high risk

individuals, I would also recommend taking a high quality L. acidophilus

and B. bifidum product (approximately 2 billion live bacteria per day)

and calcium D-glucarate (500 to 1,000 mg three times daily).

 

References:

 

Hebert J and Rosen A: Nutritional, socioeconomic, and reproductive

factors in relation to female breast cancer mortality: Findings from a

cross-national study. Cancer Detection Prevention 20:234-44, 1996.

Rose DP and Hatala MA: Dietary fatty acids and breast cancer invasion

and metastasis. Nutr Cancer 21:103-11, 1994.

Rose DP and Hatala MA: Dietary fatty acids and breast cancer invasion

and metastasis. Nutr Cancer 21:103-11, 1994.

Serraino M and Thompson LU: The effect of flaxseed on early risk markers

for mammary carcinogenesis. Cancer Letters 60:135-42, 1991.

Walaszek Z, et al.: Metabolism, uptake, and excretion of a D-glucaric

acid salt and its potential use in cancer prevention. Cancer Detection

Prevention 21:178-90, 1997.

 

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