Expert Commentary
Annual screening mammography beginning at age 40 saves the most lives
If women wait until age 45 to begin annual screening, then shift to biennial screening at age 55, more than 38,000 women now in their 40s will die...
University of Florida Research Foundation Professor and Associate Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine–Jacksonville. Dr. Kaunitz directs Menopause and Gynecologic Ultrasound Services, UF Women’s Health Specialists–Emerson. He serves on the OBG Management Board of Editors.
Dr. Kaunitz reports no financial relationships relevant to this article.
It may. In this randomized trial of 4,282 women in Spain, the incidence of invasive breast cancer was lowest among those who followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented by extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), compared with women who followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented by mixed nuts and those who were advised to follow a low-fat diet (controls).
The Mediterranean diet, characterized by an emphasis on plant foods, fish, and olive oil, is known to have cardiovascular benefits. This study by Toledo and colleagues is a secondary analysis of a large randomized trial that assessed the impact of the Mediterranean diet versus a recommended low-fat diet in patients at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The larger trial was stopped after 4.8 years of follow-up, when findings of early cardiovascular benefit became evident.
The 4,282 women in the trial, all of whom were white, were randomly allocated to one of the following groups:
Physical activity was not promoted in any group.
Findings of the trialAfter a median follow-up of 4.8 years, 35 confirmed cases of invasive breast cancer occurred among participants in the trial, who ranged in age from 60 to 80 years. The observed rate (per 1,000 person-years) of breast cancer was 1.1 for women following the Mediterranean diet supplemented with EVOO, 1.8 for women on the diet supplemented by mixed nuts, and 2.9 for the control group.
Women allocated to the Mediterranean diet with EVOO had a 62% reduced risk of invasive breast cancer (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16–0.87). Women allocated to the same diet with mixed nuts had a 38% reduced risk of breast cancer, but this finding was not statistically significant.
Note that women in the control group failed to reduce their total fat intake substantially, even though they were advised to do so, although saturated fat intake remained below 10%.
Strengths and limitations of the trialAlthough the incidence of breast cancer is lower in Mediterranean countries, this is the first randomized trial to assess the impact of the Mediterranean diet on risk of this disease.
Because breast cancer was not the primary outcome, investigators were unable to verify if or when participants underwent mammography screening. However, randomization resulted in large groups of participants between whom mammographic status likely was comparable.
The lack of ethnic diversity represents another limitation.
Toledo and colleagues describe differences between olive oils in general and EVOO, including biologic mechanisms that might result in breast cancer prophylaxis.
WHAT THIS EVIDENCE MEANS FOR PRACTICEGiven the known cardiovascular benefits, it is reasonable to suggest to our menopausal patients that a Mediterranean diet with EVOO may reduce their risk of breast cancer.
—Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
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