Does the association between adiposity measures and pre-frailty among older adults vary by social position? Findings from the Tromsø study 2015/2016.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-frailty provides an ideal opportunity to prevent physical frailty and promote healthy ageing. Excess adiposity has been associated with an increased risk of pre-frailty, but limited studies have explored whether the association between adiposity measures and pre-frailty varies by social position. METHODS: We used data from the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø7) conducted in 2015-2016. Our primary sample consisted of 2,945 women and 2,794 men aged ≥ 65 years. Pre-frailty was defined as the presence of one or two of the five frailty components: low grip strength, slow walking speed, exhaustion, unintentional weight loss and low physical activity. Adiposity was defined by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fat mass index (FMI) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass. Education and subjective social position were used as measures of social position. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess the association between adiposity measures and pre-frailty, and the interaction term between adiposity measures and social position measures were utilised to explore whether the association varied by social position. RESULTS: In our sample, 28.7% of women and 25.5% of men were pre-frail. We found sub-multiplicative interaction of BMI-defined obesity with education in women and subjective social position in men with respect to development of pre-frailty. No other adiposity measures showed significant variation by education or subjective social position. Regardless of the levels of education or subjective social position, participants with excess adiposity (high BMI, high WC, high FMI and high VAT mass) had a higher risk of pre-frailty compared to those with low adiposity. CONCLUSION: We consistently observed that women and men with excess adiposity had a greater risk of pre-frailty than those with low adiposity, with only slight variation by social position. These results emphasize the importance of preventing excess adiposity to promote healthy ageing and prevent frailty among all older adults across social strata.

Digital Food Frequency Questionnaire Assessing Adherence to the Norwegian Food-Based Dietary Guidelines and Other National Lifestyle Recommendations: Instrument Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: Valid assessment tools are needed when investigating adherence to national dietary and lifestyle guidelines. OBJECTIVE: The relative validity of the new digital food frequency questionnaire, the DIGIKOST-FFQ, against 7-day weighed food records and activity sensors was investigated. METHODS: In total, 77 participants were included in the validation study and completed the DIGIKOST-FFQ and the weighed food record, and of these, 56 (73%) also used the activity sensors. The DIGIKOST-FFQ estimates the intake of foods according to the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) in addition to lifestyle factors. RESULTS: At the group level, the DIGIKOST-FFQ showed good validity in estimating intakes according to the Norwegian FBDG. The median differences were small and well below portion sizes for all foods except "water" (median difference 230 g/day). The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to rank individual intakes for all foods (r=0.2-0.7). However, ranking estimates of vegetable intakes should be interpreted with caution. Between 69% and 88% of the participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartile for foods and between 71% and 82% for different activity intensities. The Bland-Altman plots showed acceptable agreements between DIGIKOST-FFQ and the reference methods. The absolute amount of time in "moderate to vigorous intensity" was underestimated with the DIGIKOST-FFQ. However, estimated time in "moderate to vigorous intensity," "vigorous intensity," and "sedentary time" showed acceptable correlations and good agreement between the methods. The DIGIKOST-FFQ was able to identify adherence to the Norwegian FBDG and physical activity recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The DIGIKOST-FFQ gave valid estimates of dietary intakes and was able to identify individuals with different degrees of adherence to the Norwegian FBDG and physical activity recommendations. Moderate physical activity was underreported, water was overreported, and vegetables showed poor correlation, which are important to consider when interpreting the data. Good agreement was observed between the methods in estimating dietary intakes and time in "moderate to vigorous physical activity," "sedentary time," and "sleep."

The association of dietary patterns with muscle mass and strength in old age: The Hordaland Health Study.

PURPOSE: The single nutrient approach in nutrition research lacks the ability to account for synergistic relationships between dietary components. Current evidence suggests that diet quality, reflecting overall dietary intake, may influence muscle health. In a community-based observational study in Western Norway, we examined dietary patterns in relation to muscle mass and strength at age 67-70. METHODS: The current analysis was conducted in men and women of The Hordaland Health Study (HUSK), who participated in both the second (HUSK2) and third study wave (HUSK3). Dietary patterns were extracted by principal component analysis (PCA) on food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data. Individual dietary pattern scores (DPS) for HUSK2 (age 46-49) and HUSK3 (age 67-70), and overall DPS (oDPS) were calculated. Outcome variables were appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) and handgrip strength (HGS) measured in HUSK3. The relationships of HUSK3 DPS and oDPS with ASMM and HGS were assessed by multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: We identified three distinct dietary patterns, labelled 'Western', 'Healthy', and 'Sweets-focused'. A significant positive association was observed between the oDPS for the 'Healthy' dietary pattern and ASMM in both men and women at age 67-70. No significant associations were found between HUSK3 DPS or oDPS for any of the identified dietary patterns and HGS in our population. CONCLUSION: Higher oDPS on a dietary pattern predominantly rich in fish, vegetables, nuts and seeds, fruit and berries, and eggs was associated with better ASMM at age 67-70. To establish the influence of diet quality on muscle health, further long-term studies with repeated dietary assessments are warranted.

Fish intake and pre-frailty in Norwegian older adults - a prospective cohort study: the Tromsø Study 1994-2016.

BACKGROUND: Pre-frailty is an intermediate, potentially reversible state before the onset of frailty. Healthy dietary choices may prevent pre-frailty. Fish is included in most healthy diets, but little is known about the association between long-term habitual fish intake and pre-frailty. We aimed to elucidate the longitudinal association between the frequency of fish intake and pre-frailty in a cohort of older adults in Norway. METHODS: 4350 participants (52% women, ≥65 years at follow-up) were included in this prospective cohort study. Data was obtained from three waves of the population-based Tromsø Study in Norway; Tromsø4 (1994-1995), Tromsø6 (2007-2008) and Tromsø7 (follow-up, 2015-2016). Frailty status at follow-up was defined by a modified version of Fried's phenotype. Fish intake was self-reported in the three surveys and assessed as three levels of frequency of intake: low (0-3 times/month), medium (1-3 times/week) and high (≥ 4 times/week). The fish-pre-frailty association was analysed using multivariable logistic regression in two ways; (1) frequency of intake of lean, fatty and total fish in Tromsø6 and pre-frailty at follow-up, and (2) patterns of total fish intake across the three surveys and pre-frailty at follow-up. RESULTS: At follow-up, 28% (n = 1124) were pre-frail. Participants with a higher frequency of lean, fatty and total fish intake had 28% (odds ratio (OR) = 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.53, 0.97), 37% (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.43, 0.91) and 31% (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.52, 0.91) lower odds of pre-frailty 8 years later compared with those with a low intake, respectively. A pattern of stable high fish intake over 21 years was associated with 41% (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.38, 0.91) lower odds of pre-frailty compared with a stable low intake. CONCLUSIONS: A higher frequency of intake of lean, fatty and total fish, and a pattern of consistent frequent fish intake over time, were associated with lower odds of pre-frailty in older community-dwelling Norwegian adults. These results emphasise the important role of fish in a healthy diet and that a frequent fish intake should be promoted to facilitate healthy ageing.

Lifestyle predictors for inconsistent participation to fecal based colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Consistent participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with repeated fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is important for the success of the screening program. We investigated whether lifestyle risk factors for CRC were related to inconsistent participation in up to four rounds of FIT-screening. METHOD: We included data from 3,051 individuals who participated in up to four FIT-screening rounds and returned a lifestyle questionnaire. Using logistic regression analyses, we estimated associations between smoking habits, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, alcohol consumption, diet and a healthy lifestyle score (from least favorable 0 to most favorable 5), and inconsistent participation (i.e. not participating in all rounds of eligible FIT screening invitations). RESULTS: Altogether 721 (24%) individuals were categorized as inconsistent participants Current smoking and BMI ≥30 kg/m2 were associated with inconsistent participation; odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 1.54 (1.21-2.95) and 1.54 (1.20-1.97), respectively. A significant trend towards inconsistent participation by a lower healthy lifestyle score was observed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle behaviors were associated with inconsistent participation in FIT-screening. Initiatives aimed at increasing participation rates among those with the unhealthiest lifestyle have a potential to improve the efficiency of screening.

Associations of red and processed meat intake with screen-detected colorectal lesions.

Limited data exist regarding the role of meat consumption in early-stage colorectal carcinogenesis. We examined associations of red and processed meat intake with screen-detected colorectal lesions in immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FIT)-positive participants, enrolled in the Norwegian CRCbiome study during 2017-2021, aged 55-77 years. Absolute and energy-adjusted intakes of red and processed meat (combined and individually) were assessed using a validated, semi-quantitative FFQ. Associations between meat intake and screen-detected colorectal lesions were examined using multinomial logistic regression analyses with adjustment for key covariates. Of 1162 participants, 319 presented with advanced colorectal lesions at colonoscopy. High v. low energy-adjusted intakes of red and processed meat combined, as well as red meat alone, were borderline to significantly positively associated with advanced colorectal lesions (OR of 1·24 (95 % CI 0·98, 1·57) and 1·34 (95 % CI 1·07, 1·69), respectively). A significant dose-response relationship was also observed for absolute intake levels (OR of 1·32 (95 % CI 1·09, 1·60) per 100 g/d increase in red and processed meat). For processed meat, no association was observed between energy-adjusted intakes and advanced colorectal lesions. A significant positive association was, however, observed for participants with absolute intake levels ≥ 100 v. < 50 g/d (OR of 1·19 (95 % CI 1·09, 1·31)). In summary, high intakes of red and processed meat were associated with presence of advanced colorectal lesions at colonoscopy in FIT-positive participants. The study demonstrates a potential role of dietary data to improve the performance of FIT-based screening.

Normal and unusual days for dietary intake during the 12 months after a breast cancer diagnosis in women.

PURPOSE: There are several reasons to report days as being unusual with regard to dietary intake, including special occasions and celebrations. For breast cancer patients during the 12 month post-surgery period, unusual days may also include days that are affected by being a cancer patient. The aim of this study was to study dietary intake on "normal" and "unusual" days, and to study what is reported in "free text fields" of a food diary. METHODS: Women (n = 456), mean age 55.5 years newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (stage I/II) were included in this clinical study. "Normal" and "unusual" days in general, over time and during the week and weekends were studied using repeated administration of a 7-day pre-coded food diary. RESULTS: The breast cancer patients reported 26% of all days as unusual. The intake of energy, most nutrients, especially alcohol and sugar, red and processed meat, and sweets, cakes, and snacks was 5-126% higher, whereas intake of fiber, fruit and berries, vegetables, and dairy products was 7-17% lower on unusual than on normal days (P < 0.001). The same pattern was seen for normal/unusual days during the weekdays, weekends and over time. Finally, 99% of the breast cancer patients used the free text fields to report additional intake with a mean energy of 1.1 MJ/day. CONCLUSION: For breast cancer patients during the 12-month post-surgery period, unusual days are important drivers of total intake, especially for alcohol. The free text fields in the pre-coded food diary contributed substantially to the total intake.

The CRCbiome study: a large prospective cohort study examining the role of lifestyle and the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer screening participants.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening reduces CRC incidence and mortality. However, current screening methods are either hampered by invasiveness or suboptimal performance, limiting their effectiveness as primary screening methods. To aid in the development of a non-invasive screening test with improved sensitivity and specificity, we have initiated a prospective biomarker study (CRCbiome), nested within a large randomized CRC screening trial in Norway. We aim to develop a microbiome-based classification algorithm to identify advanced colorectal lesions in screening participants testing positive for an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FIT). We will also examine interactions with host factors, diet, lifestyle and prescription drugs. The prospective nature of the study also enables the analysis of changes in the gut microbiome following the removal of precancerous lesions. METHODS: The CRCbiome study recruits participants enrolled in the Bowel Cancer Screening in Norway (BCSN) study, a randomized trial initiated in 2012 comparing once-only sigmoidoscopy to repeated biennial FIT, where women and men aged 50-74 years at study entry are invited to participate. Since 2017, participants randomized to FIT screening with a positive test result have been invited to join the CRCbiome study. Self-reported diet, lifestyle and demographic data are collected prior to colonoscopy after the positive FIT-test (baseline). Screening data, including colonoscopy findings are obtained from the BCSN database. Fecal samples for gut microbiome analyses are collected both before and 2 and 12 months after colonoscopy. Samples are analyzed using metagenome sequencing, with taxonomy profiles, and gene and pathway content as primary measures. CRCbiome data will also be linked to national registries to obtain information on prescription histories and cancer relevant outcomes occurring during the 10 year follow-up period. DISCUSSION: The CRCbiome study will increase our understanding of how the gut microbiome, in combination with lifestyle and environmental factors, influences the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. This knowledge will be crucial to develop microbiome-based screening tools for CRC. By evaluating biomarker performance in a screening setting, using samples from the target population, the generalizability of the findings to future screening cohorts is likely to be high. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01538550 .

Dietary changes in early-stage breast cancer patients from pre-surgery and over the 12 months post-surgery.

The time after a breast cancer diagnosis is a potential period for making positive dietary changes, but previous results are conflicting. The main aim of the present study was to study breast cancer patients' dietary changes during the 12 months post-surgery and from 12 months pre-surgery to 12 months post-surgery with repeated administration of a 7-d pre-coded food diary and an FFQ, respectively. Women (n 506), mean age 55·3 years diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (stages I and II), were included. The dietary intake was quite stable over time, but the intake was lower for energy (0·3 and 0·4 MJ/d), alcohol (1·9 and 1·5 g/d) and vegetables (17 and 22 g/d) at 6 months than 3 weeks post-surgery (food diary) and at 12 months post-surgery than pre-surgery (FFQ), respectively. Furthermore, energy percentage (E%) from carbohydrates increased between 0·8 and 1·2 E% and E% from fat decreased between 0·6 and 0·8 E% over time, measured by both dietary assessment methods. We observed a higher intake of dairy products (11 g/d) at 6 months post-surgery (food diary), and a lower intake of dairy products (34 g/d) and red and processed meat (7·2 g/d) at 12 months post-surgery (FFQ). Moreover, 24 % of the patients claimed they made dietary changes, but mostly they did not change their diet differently compared with those patients who claimed no changes. In conclusion, breast cancer patients reported only minor dietary changes from 12 months pre-surgery and during the 12 months post-surgery.

Nutritional quality of food as represented by the FSAm-NPS nutrient profiling system underlying the Nutri-Score label and cancer risk in Europe: Results from the EPIC prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Helping consumers make healthier food choices is a key issue for the prevention of cancer and other diseases. In many countries, political authorities are considering the implementation of a simplified labelling system to reflect the nutritional quality of food products. The Nutri-Score, a five-colour nutrition label, is derived from the Nutrient Profiling System of the British Food Standards Agency (modified version) (FSAm-NPS). How the consumption of foods with high/low FSAm-NPS relates to cancer risk has been studied in national/regional cohorts but has not been characterized in diverse European populations. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This prospective analysis included 471,495 adults from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC, 1992-2014, median follow-up: 15.3 y), among whom there were 49,794 incident cancer cases (main locations: breast, n = 12,063; prostate, n = 6,745; colon-rectum, n = 5,806). Usual food intakes were assessed with standardized country-specific diet assessment methods. The FSAm-NPS was calculated for each food/beverage using their 100-g content in energy, sugar, saturated fatty acid, sodium, fibres, proteins, and fruits/vegetables/legumes/nuts. The FSAm-NPS scores of all food items usually consumed by a participant were averaged to obtain the individual FSAm-NPS Dietary Index (DI) scores. Multi-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were computed. A higher FSAm-NPS DI score, reflecting a lower nutritional quality of the food consumed, was associated with a higher risk of total cancer (HRQ5 versus Q1 = 1.07; 95% CI 1.03-1.10, P-trend < 0.001). Absolute cancer rates in those with high and low (quintiles 5 and 1) FSAm-NPS DI scores were 81.4 and 69.5 cases/10,000 person-years, respectively. Higher FSAm-NPS DI scores were specifically associated with higher risks of cancers of the colon-rectum, upper aerodigestive tract and stomach, lung for men, and liver and postmenopausal breast for women (all P < 0.05). The main study limitation is that it was based on an observational cohort using self-reported dietary data obtained through a single baseline food frequency questionnaire; thus, exposure misclassification and residual confounding cannot be ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: In this large multinational European cohort, the consumption of food products with a higher FSAm-NPS score (lower nutritional quality) was associated with a higher risk of cancer. This supports the relevance of the FSAm-NPS as underlying nutrient profiling system for front-of-pack nutrition labels, as well as for other public health nutritional measures.

Milk and risk of colorectal, colon and rectal cancer in the Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) Cohort Study.

According to World Cancer Research Fund International/American Institute for Cancer Research, it is 'probable' that dairy products decrease the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, meta-analyses restricted to women have not shown associations between milk intake and risk of CRC. The aim of this study was to examine the association between milk intake and risk of CRC, colon cancer and rectal cancer among women. Data from 81 675 participants in the Norwegian Women and Cancer Cohort Study were included, and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to investigate milk intake using two different analytical approaches: one that included repeated measurements and one that included baseline measurements only (872 and 1084 CRC cases, respectively). A weak inverse association between milk intake and risk of colon cancer may be indicated both in repeated measurements analyses and in baseline data analyses. Hazard ratios (HR) for colon cancer of 0·80 (95 % CI 0·62, 1·03, P trend 0·07) and 0·81 (95 % CI 0·64, 1·01, P trend 0·03) and HR for rectal cancer of 0·97 (95 % CI 0·67, 1·42, P trend 0·92) and 0·71 (95 % CI 0·50, 1·01, P trend 0·03) were found when comparing the high with the no/seldom milk intake group in energy-adjusted multivariable models. Our study indicates that there may be a weak inverse association between milk intake and risk of colon cancer among women. The two analytical approaches yielded different results for rectal cancer and hence CRC. Our study indicates that the use of single or repeated measurements in analyses may influence the results.

Validation of repeated self-reported n-3 PUFA intake using serum phospholipid fatty acids as a biomarker in breast cancer patients during treatment.

BACKGROUND: The role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in breast cancer is not clear and under debate. To explore this relationship it is important to have proper validated dietary assessment methods for measuring the intake of n-3 PUFAs. The aim of the current study is to validate two different methods used to assess the intake of selected n-3 PUFAs as well as food sources of long-chained n-3 PUFAs. Also, we aim to study how stable the intake of fatty acids is during breast cancer treatment. METHODS: The study-population was patients with breast cancer (Stages I-II) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS-grade III) undergoing treatment (n = 49) in Norway. Dietary intake was assessed by two self-administered methods, a 256 food item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a 7-day pre-coded food diary (PFD). The FFQ was administered presurgery and twelve months postsurgery, and the PFD was administered shortly after surgery (10 +/- 2 days), six and twelve months postsurgery. Fasting blood samples (presurgery, six and twelve months postsurgery) were analysed for serum phospholipid fatty acids, a biomarker for intake of n-3 PUFAs. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 54.2 (7.8) years at diagnosis, and the mean (SD) body mass index (BMI) was 24.8 (3.4) kg/m2. Correlation coefficients between dietary intakes of n-3 PUFAs measured with the FFQ and the PFD ranged from 0.35 to 0.66. The correlation coefficients between the PFD and the biomarker (serum phospholipid n-3 PUFAs) as well as between the FFQ and the biomarker demonstrated stronger correlations twelve months after surgery (ρ 0.40-0.56 and 0.36-0.53, respectively) compared to around surgery (ρ 0.08-0.20 and 0.28-0.38, respectively). The same pattern was observed for intake of fatty fish. The intake of n-3 PUFAs did not change during treatment assessed by the FFQ, PFD or biomarker. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the FFQ and the PFD can be used to assess dietary intake of fish and n-3 PUFAs in breast cancer patients during breast cancer treatment. Still, the PFD shortly after surgery should be used with caution. The diet of patients undergoing breast cancer treatment was quite stable, and the intake of n-3 PUFAs did not change.

Lifestyle predictors for non-participation and outcome in the second round of faecal immunochemical test in colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: To reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality through population-based screening programmes using faecal tests, it is important that individuals continue to participate in the repeated rounds of screening. We aimed to identify lifestyle predictors for discontinuation of faecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening after the first round, as well as lifestyle predictors for colorectal neoplasia detected in the second-round FIT screening. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, we invited 6959 individuals aged 50-74 years from south-east Norway for a first round of FIT screening and to complete a self-reported lifestyle questionnaire on demographic factors, body mass index (BMI, kg m-2), smoking habits, physical activity, consumption of alcohol and dietary items. Two years later, we estimated the associations between these factors, non-participation and screening results in the second round of FIT screening using adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of the 3114 responders to the questionnaire who completed the first-round FIT and who were invited to participate in second-round FIT screening, 540 (17%) did not participate. The OR and (95% CI) for discontinuation of FIT screening after the first round was 1.61 (1.24-2.10) for current smoking compared with non-smoking; 2.01 (1.25-3.24) for BMI⩾35 kg m-2 compared with BMI 16.9-24.9 kg m-2 and 0.70 (0.52-0.94) for physical activity in the third quartile vs the first. Among participants, smoking, high BMI and high alcohol consumption were associated with an increased odds of detecting colorectal neoplasia (n=107). CONCLUSIONS: These results may indicate that Norwegian FIT screening participants who discontinue after the first round have lifestyle behaviours associated with increased risk of CRC.

Dietary polyphenol intake in Europe: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Polyphenols are plant secondary metabolites with a large variability in their chemical structure and dietary occurrence that have been associated with some protective effects against several chronic diseases. To date, limited data exist on intake of polyphenols in populations. The current cross-sectional analysis aimed at estimating dietary intakes of all currently known individual polyphenols and total intake per class and subclass, and to identify their main food sources in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. METHODS: Dietary data at baseline were collected using a standardized 24-h dietary recall software administered to 36,037 adult subjects. Dietary data were linked with Phenol-Explorer, a database with data on 502 individual polyphenols in 452 foods and data on polyphenol losses due to cooking and food processing. RESULTS: Mean total polyphenol intake was the highest in Aarhus-Denmark (1786 mg/day in men and 1626 mg/day in women) and the lowest in Greece (744 mg/day in men and 584 mg/day in women). When dividing the subjects into three regions, the highest intake of total polyphenols was observed in the UK health-conscious group, followed by non-Mediterranean (non-MED) and MED countries. The main polyphenol contributors were phenolic acids (52.5-56.9 %), except in men from MED countries and in the UK health-conscious group where they were flavonoids (49.1-61.7 %). Coffee, tea, and fruits were the most important food sources of total polyphenols. A total of 437 different individual polyphenols were consumed, including 94 consumed at a level >1 mg/day. The most abundant ones were the caffeoylquinic acids and the proanthocyanidin oligomers and polymers. CONCLUSION: This study describes the large number of dietary individual polyphenols consumed and the high variability of their intakes between European populations, particularly between MED and non-MED countries.

Alcohol consumption, endogenous estrogen and mammographic density among premenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol consumption may promote aromatization of androgens to estrogens, which may partly explain the observations linking alcohol consumption to higher breast cancer risk. Whether alcohol consumption is associated with endogenous estrogen levels, and mammographic density phenotypes in premenopausal women remains unclear. METHODS: Alcohol consumption was collected by self-report and interview, using semi quantitative food frequency questionnaires, and a food diary during seven days of a menstrual cycle among 202 premenopausal women, participating in the Energy Balance and Breast Cancer Aspects (EBBA) study I. Estrogen was assessed in serum and daily in saliva across an entire menstrual cycle. Computer-assisted mammographic density (Madena) was obtained from digitized mammograms taken between days 7-12 of the menstrual cycle. Multivariable regression models were used to investigate the associations between alcohol consumption, endogenous estrogen and mammographic density phenotypes. RESULTS: Current alcohol consumption was positively associated with endogenous estrogen, and absolute mammographic density. We observed 18 % higher mean salivary 17ß-estradiol levels throughout the menstrual cycle, among women who consumed more than 10 g of alcohol per day compared to women who consumed less than 10 g of alcohol per day (p = 0.034). Long-term and past-year alcohol consumption was positively associated with mammographic density. We observed a positive association between alcohol consumption (past year) and absolute mammographic density; high alcohol consumers (≥7 drinks/week) had a mean absolute mammographic density of 46.17 cm(2) (95 % confidence interval (CI) 39.39, 52.95), while low alcohol consumers (<1 drink/week) had a mean absolute mammographic density of 31.26 cm(2) (95 % CI 25.89, 36.64) (p-trend 0.001). After adjustments, high consumers of alcohol (≥7 drinks/week), had 5.08 (95 % CI 1.82, 14.20) times higher odds of having absolute mammographic density above median (>32.4 cm(2)), compared to low (<1 drink/week) alcohol consumers. CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption was positively associated with daily endogenous estrogen levels and mammographic density in premenopausal women. These associations could point to an important area of breast cancer prevention.

Alcohol consumption and the risk of renal cancers in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC).

Epidemiologic studies have reported that moderate alcohol consumption is inversely associated with the risk of renal cancer. However, there is no information available on the associations in renal cancer subsites. From 1992 through to 2010, 477,325 men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort were followed for incident renal cancers (n = 931). Baseline and lifetime alcohol consumption was assessed by country-specific, validated dietary questionnaires. Information on past alcohol consumption was collected by lifestyle questionnaires. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from Cox proportional hazard models. In multivariate analysis, total alcohol consumption at baseline was inversely associated with renal cancer; the HR and 95% CI for the increasing categories of total alcohol consumption at recruitment versus the light drinkers category were 0.78 (0.62-0.99), 0.82 (0.64-1.04), 0.70 (0.55-0.90), 0.91 (0.63-1.30), respectively, (ptrend = 0.001). A similar relationship was observed for average lifetime alcohol consumption and for all renal cancer subsites combined or for renal parenchyma subsite. The trend was not observed in hypertensive individuals and not significant in smokers. In conclusion, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a decreased risk of renal cancer.

Meat and fish consumption and the risk of renal cell carcinoma in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition.

Renal cell cancer (RCC) incidence varies worldwide with a higher incidence in developed countries and lifestyle is likely to contribute to the development of this disease. We examined whether meat and fish consumption were related to the risk of RCC in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). The analysis included 493,179 EPIC participants, recruited between 1992 and 2000. Until December 2008, 691 RCC cases have been identified. Meat and fish consumption was assessed at baseline using country-specific dietary assessment instruments; 24-hour recalls were applied in an 8% subsample for calibration purposes. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Women with a high consumption of red meat (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.14-1.62; calibrated, per 50 g/day) and processed meat (HR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.05-3.03; calibrated, per 50 g/day) had a higher risk of RCC, while no association existed in men. For processed meat, the association with RCC incidence was prominent in premenopausal women and was lacking in postmenopausal women (p interaction = 0.02). Neither poultry nor fish consumption were statistically significantly associated with the risk of RCC. The results show a distinct association of red and processed meat consumption with incident RCC in women but not in men. A biological explanation for these findings remains unclear.

Dietary fat, fat subtypes and hepatocellular carcinoma in a large European cohort.

The role of amount and type of dietary fat consumption in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly understood, despite suggestive biological plausibility. The associations of total fat, fat subtypes and fat sources with HCC incidence were investigated in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort, which includes 191 incident HCC cases diagnosed between 1992 and 2010. Diet was assessed by country-specific, validated dietary questionnaires. A single 24-hr diet recall from a cohort subsample was used for measurement error calibration. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated from Cox proportional hazard models. Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV/HCV) status and biomarkers of liver function were assessed separately in a nested case-control subset with available blood samples (HCC = 122). In multivariable calibrated models, there was a statistically significant inverse association between total fat intake and risk of HCC (per 10 g/day, HR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65-0.99), which was mainly driven by monounsaturated fats (per 5 g/day, HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55-0.92) rather than polyunsaturated fats (per 5 g/day, HR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.68-1.25). There was no association between saturated fats (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.88-1.34) and HCC risk. The ratio of polyunsaturated/monounsaturated fats to saturated fats was not significantly associated with HCC risk (per 0.2 point, HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.73-1.01). Restriction of analyses to HBV/HCV free participants or adjustment for liver function did not substantially alter the findings. In this large prospective European cohort, higher consumption of monounsaturated fats is associated with lower HCC risk.

Baseline and lifetime alcohol consumption and risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in the EPIC study.

BACKGROUND: Results from several cohort and case-control studies suggest a protective association between current alcohol intake and risk of thyroid carcinoma, but the epidemiological evidence is not completely consistent and several questions remain unanswered. METHODS: The association between alcohol consumption at recruitment and over the lifetime and risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma was examined in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Among 477 263 eligible participants (70% women), 556 (90% women) were diagnosed with differentiated thyroid carcinoma over a mean follow-up of 11 years. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Compared with participants consuming 0.1-4.9 g of alcohol per day at recruitment, participants consuming 15 or more grams (approximately 1-1.5 drinks) had a 23% lower risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (HR=0.77; 95% CI=0.60-0.98). These findings did not differ greatly when analyses were conducted for lifetime alcohol consumption, although the risk estimates were attenuated and not statistically significant anymore. Similar results were observed by type of alcoholic beverage, by differentiated thyroid carcinoma histology or according to age, sex, smoking status, body mass index and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides some support to the hypothesis that moderate alcohol consumption may be associated with a lower risk of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas.

Pre-diagnostic polyphenol intake and breast cancer survival: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.

The aim was to investigate the association between pre-diagnostic intakes of polyphenol classes (flavonoids, lignans, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and other polyphenols) in relation to breast cancer survival (all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality). We used data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Pre-diagnostic usual diet was assessed using dietary questionnaires, and polyphenol intakes were estimated using the Phenol-Explorer database. We followed 11,782 breast cancer cases from time of diagnosis until death, end of follow-up or last day of contact. During a median of 6 years, 1482 women died (753 of breast cancer). We related polyphenol intake to all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality using Cox proportional hazard models with time since diagnosis as underlying time and strata for age and country. Among postmenopausal women, an intake of lignans in the highest versus lowest quartile was related to a 28 % lower risk of dying from breast (adjusted model: HR, quartile 4 vs. quartile 1, 0.72, 95 % CI 0.53; 0.98). In contrast, in premenopausal women, a positive association between lignan intake and all-cause mortality was found (adjusted model: HR, quartile 4 vs. quartile 1, 1.63, 95 % CI 1.03; 2.57). We found no association for other polyphenol classes. Intake of lignans before breast cancer diagnosis may be related to improved survival among postmenopausal women, but may on the contrary worsen the survival for premenopausal women. This suggests that the role of phytoestrogens in breast cancer survival is complex and may be dependent of menopausal status.