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| Fibre 'lowers breast cancer risk' | Fibre 'lowers breast cancer risk' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pre-menopausal women who eat large amounts of fibre could halve their breast cancer risk, a UK study has suggested. | Pre-menopausal women who eat large amounts of fibre could halve their breast cancer risk, a UK study has suggested. |
| The University of Leeds researchers, who studied 35,000 women, found those who ate 30g of fibre a day had half the risk of those who ate less than 20g. | The University of Leeds researchers, who studied 35,000 women, found those who ate 30g of fibre a day had half the risk of those who ate less than 20g. |
| They said women should try to increase their fibre intake. | They said women should try to increase their fibre intake. |
| Experts said the International Journal of Epidemiology study was more evidence of the benefits of a healthy diet. | Experts said the International Journal of Epidemiology study was more evidence of the benefits of a healthy diet. |
| The average person in the UK eats 12g of fibre a day. | The average person in the UK eats 12g of fibre a day. |
| It further highlights the importance of eating a healthy diet for reducing the risk of cancer Ed Yong, Cancer Research UK | It further highlights the importance of eating a healthy diet for reducing the risk of cancer Ed Yong, Cancer Research UK |
| To eat 30g, a person would need to eat a high-fibre cereal for breakfast, switch from white or brown bread to wholemeal and ensure they have five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. | To eat 30g, a person would need to eat a high-fibre cereal for breakfast, switch from white or brown bread to wholemeal and ensure they have five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. |
| A team from the University of Leeds Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics have been monitoring the eating habits and health of more than 35,000 women for seven years. | A team from the University of Leeds Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics have been monitoring the eating habits and health of more than 35,000 women for seven years. |
| They were aged 35 to 69 at the beginning of the study. | They were aged 35 to 69 at the beginning of the study. |
| Diet was assessed using a 217-item food questionnaire. | Diet was assessed using a 217-item food questionnaire. |
| Processing | Processing |
| Unlike other studies looking at fibre intake and breast cancer risk, the women studied had a range of diets including groups who were wholly vegetarian or who did not eat red meat. | Unlike other studies looking at fibre intake and breast cancer risk, the women studied had a range of diets including groups who were wholly vegetarian or who did not eat red meat. |
| HOW TO EAT ENOUGH FIBRE Breakfast: A bowl of high-fibre cereal, two slices of wholemeal breadLunch: Half a tin of beans on wholemeal toast Rest of day, including dinner:Five portions of fruit and vegetables | |
| Just under 16,000 women were pre-menopausal when they entered the study, with 18,000 post-menopausal. | Just under 16,000 women were pre-menopausal when they entered the study, with 18,000 post-menopausal. |
| 257 pre-menopausal women developed breast cancer during the study, which was initially funded by the World Cancer Research Fund. | 257 pre-menopausal women developed breast cancer during the study, which was initially funded by the World Cancer Research Fund. |
| They were found to be women who had a greater percentage of energy derived from protein, and lower intakes of dietary fibre and vitamin C, compared to women who did not develop cancer. | They were found to be women who had a greater percentage of energy derived from protein, and lower intakes of dietary fibre and vitamin C, compared to women who did not develop cancer. |
| However, the effect was not seen in the post-menopausal group, in which 350 developed breast cancer. | However, the effect was not seen in the post-menopausal group, in which 350 developed breast cancer. |
| The researchers say this may be because fibre affects the way the body processes and regulates the female hormone oestrogen. | The researchers say this may be because fibre affects the way the body processes and regulates the female hormone oestrogen. |
| Levels of the hormone are higher in pre-menopausal women. | Levels of the hormone are higher in pre-menopausal women. |
| Early exposure | Early exposure |
| Professor Janet Cade, who led the research, said: "Our study found no protective effect in the older group, but significant evidence of a link in the pre-menopausal women. | Professor Janet Cade, who led the research, said: "Our study found no protective effect in the older group, but significant evidence of a link in the pre-menopausal women. |
| "The relevant exposure may be earlier in life, explaining why the protective effect was not shown in the post-menopausal group." | "The relevant exposure may be earlier in life, explaining why the protective effect was not shown in the post-menopausal group." |
| She added: "In addition, post-menopausal women with high body mass indexes [who are overweight or obese] have an increased risk of breast cancer. | She added: "In addition, post-menopausal women with high body mass indexes [who are overweight or obese] have an increased risk of breast cancer. |
| "Their weight may over-ride any other effects such as benefits from fibre." | "Their weight may over-ride any other effects such as benefits from fibre." |
| Professor Cade added: "It goes along with the general healthy eating advice to make sure that you are getting plenty of fibre in your diet through breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, fruit and vegetables." | Professor Cade added: "It goes along with the general healthy eating advice to make sure that you are getting plenty of fibre in your diet through breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, fruit and vegetables." |
| Ed Yong, cancer information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "We already advise eating a diet rich in fibre to reduce the risk of bowel cancer. "This study suggests that it could help protect against breast cancer in younger women too." | Ed Yong, cancer information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "We already advise eating a diet rich in fibre to reduce the risk of bowel cancer. "This study suggests that it could help protect against breast cancer in younger women too." |
| He added: "Until now, the evidence that fibre could reduce the risk of breast cancer has been inconsistent. | He added: "Until now, the evidence that fibre could reduce the risk of breast cancer has been inconsistent. |
| "This study suggests that this is because any protective effects are limited to women before their menopause. | "This study suggests that this is because any protective effects are limited to women before their menopause. |
| "It further highlights the importance of eating a healthy diet for reducing the risk of cancer." | "It further highlights the importance of eating a healthy diet for reducing the risk of cancer." |
| Dr Sarah Cant, of the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer said separating out the individual effects of different food was difficult. | Dr Sarah Cant, of the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer said separating out the individual effects of different food was difficult. |