Dietary intake of trans fatty acids and breast cancer risk in 9 European countries

Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partner institutions have found evidence that dietary intake of industrial trans fatty acids is associated with elevated risk of breast cancer. The results of this research – the largest study to comprehensively examine the association between dietary intakes of trans fatty acids and breast cancer – have been published in BMC Medicine.

The researchers investigated the associations of dietary intakes of both industrial trans fatty acids and ruminant trans fatty acids with risk of breast cancer in more than 300 000 women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.

The results support the hypothesis that higher dietary intakes of industrial trans fatty acids, in particular elaidic acid, are associated with elevated risk of breast cancer. Further mechanistic studies are needed to identify biological pathways that may underlie these associations.

Matta M, Huybrechts I, Biessy C, Casagrande C, Yammine S, Fournier A, et al.
Dietary intake of trans fatty acids and breast cancer risk in 9 European countries
BMC Med, Published online 30 March 2021;
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-021-01952-3

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