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| Grapefruit link to breast cancer | Grapefruit link to breast cancer |
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| Eating grapefruit every day could raise the risk of developing breast cancer by almost a third, US scientists say. | Eating grapefruit every day could raise the risk of developing breast cancer by almost a third, US scientists say. |
| A study of 50,000 post-menopausal women found eating just a quarter of a grapefruit daily raised the risk by up to 30%. | A study of 50,000 post-menopausal women found eating just a quarter of a grapefruit daily raised the risk by up to 30%. |
| The fruit is thought to boost levels of oestrogen - the hormone associated with a higher risk of the disease, the British Journal of Cancer reported. | The fruit is thought to boost levels of oestrogen - the hormone associated with a higher risk of the disease, the British Journal of Cancer reported. |
| But the researchers and other experts said more research was still needed. | But the researchers and other experts said more research was still needed. |
| This is an interesting study, but is simply a piece of the jigsaw that will eventually help us to understand how our diets affect our health Dr Joanne Lunn | This is an interesting study, but is simply a piece of the jigsaw that will eventually help us to understand how our diets affect our health Dr Joanne Lunn |
| The women had to fill in questionnaires saying how often they ate grapefruit and how big their portions were. | The women had to fill in questionnaires saying how often they ate grapefruit and how big their portions were. |
| Oestrogen important | Oestrogen important |
| The researchers, at the universities of South California and Hawaii, found that women who ate one quarter of a grapefruit or more every day had a higher risk of breast cancer than those who did not eat the fruit at all. | The researchers, at the universities of South California and Hawaii, found that women who ate one quarter of a grapefruit or more every day had a higher risk of breast cancer than those who did not eat the fruit at all. |
| Previous studies have shown that a molecule called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is involved in metabolising oestrogen hormones. | Previous studies have shown that a molecule called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is involved in metabolising oestrogen hormones. |
| And grapefruit may boost blood oestrogen levels by inhibiting this molecule, allowing the hormones to build up. | And grapefruit may boost blood oestrogen levels by inhibiting this molecule, allowing the hormones to build up. |
| The researchers found that in women who ate at least a quarter of a grapefruit daily, levels of oestrogen were higher. | The researchers found that in women who ate at least a quarter of a grapefruit daily, levels of oestrogen were higher. |
| They said: "It is well established that oestrogen is associated with breast cancer risk. | They said: "It is well established that oestrogen is associated with breast cancer risk. |
| "Therefore, if grapefruit intake affects oestrogen metabolism leading to higher circulating levels, then it is biologically plausible that regular intake of grapefruit would increase a woman's risk of breast cancer." | "Therefore, if grapefruit intake affects oestrogen metabolism leading to higher circulating levels, then it is biologically plausible that regular intake of grapefruit would increase a woman's risk of breast cancer." |
| More research | More research |
| And they said this was the first time a commonly eaten food had been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in older women. | And they said this was the first time a commonly eaten food had been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in older women. |
| However, they warned that more research was needed to confirm the findings which may have been affected because they only took into account intake of the fruit, but not grapefruit juice. | However, they warned that more research was needed to confirm the findings which may have been affected because they only took into account intake of the fruit, but not grapefruit juice. |
| Breast cancer accounts for almost a third of all cancers in women, and previous lifestyle factors linked to the disease include drinking alcohol and being overweight. | Breast cancer accounts for almost a third of all cancers in women, and previous lifestyle factors linked to the disease include drinking alcohol and being overweight. |
| Dr Joanne Lunn, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation said: "This is an interesting study of a large group of post-menopausal women whose diet and health have been followed for many years. | Dr Joanne Lunn, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation said: "This is an interesting study of a large group of post-menopausal women whose diet and health have been followed for many years. |
| "However, this study is simply a piece of the jigsaw that will eventually help us to understand how our diets affect our health. | "However, this study is simply a piece of the jigsaw that will eventually help us to understand how our diets affect our health. |
| "Although we are beginning to get a better awareness of how our diets can modify the risk of diseases such as cancer, we are still a long way from identifying particular foods that might specifically increase or decrease risk." | "Although we are beginning to get a better awareness of how our diets can modify the risk of diseases such as cancer, we are still a long way from identifying particular foods that might specifically increase or decrease risk." |
| However, she said that some dietary patterns are associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers and that a diet rich in a variety of different fruits and vegetables could help reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers. |