Dietary inflammatory potential, oxidative balance score, and risk of breast cancer: Findings from the Sister Study

Int J Cancer. 2021 Aug 1;149(3):615-626. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33581. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Abstract

Diet, inflammation, and oxidative stress may be important in breast carcinogenesis, but evidence on the role of the inflammatory and prooxidative potential of dietary patterns is limited. Energy adjusted-Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII™) and dietary oxidative balance score (D-OBS) were calculated for 43 563 Sister Study cohort participants who completed a Block 1998 food frequency questionnaire at enrollment in 2003-2009 and satisfied eligibility criteria. D-OBS was validated using measured F2 -isoprostanes and metabolites. High E-DII score and low D-OBS represent a more proinflammatory and prooxidant diet, respectively, and associations of quartiles of each index with breast cancer (BC) risk were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. There were 2619 BCs diagnosed at least 1 year after enrollment (mean follow-up 8.4 years). There was no overall association between E-DII and BC risk, whereas there was a suggestive inverse association for the highest vs lowest quartile of D-OBS (HR 0.92 [95% CI, 0.81-1.03]). The highest quartile of E-DII was associated with risk of triple-negative BC (HR 1.53 [95% CI, 0.99-2.35]). When the two indices were combined, a proinflammatory/prooxidant diet (highest tertile of E-DII and lowest tertile of D-OBS) was associated with increased risk for all BC (HR 1.13 [95% CI, 1.00-1.27]) and for triple-negative BC (1.72 [95% CI, 1.10-2.70]), compared to an antiinflammatory/antioxidant diet (lowest tertile of E-DII and highest tertile of D-OBS). Diets with increased inflammatory potential and reduced oxidative balance were positively associated with overall and triple-negative BC.

Keywords: breast cancer; dietary inflammatory potential; estrogen receptor; oxidative balance score; triple-negative.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diet / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Siblings*
  • United States / epidemiology