Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load, and breast cancer risk: A case-control study

Background: Certain types of carbohydrates increase glucose and insulin levels to a greater extent than others. In turn, insulin may raise levels of insulin-like growth factors, which may influence breast cancer risk. We analyzed the effect of type and amount of carbohydrates on breast cancer risk, using the glycemic index and the glycemic load measures in a large case-control study conducted in Italy. Patients and methods: Cases were 2569 women with incident, histologically-confirmed breast cancer interviewed between 1991 and 1994. Controls were 2588 women admitted to the same hospital network for a variety of acute, non-neoplastic conditions. Average daily glycemic index and glycemic load were calculated from a validated 78-item food frequency questionnaire. Results: Direct associations with breast cancer risk emerged for glycemic index (odds ratio, OR for highest vs. lowest quintile = 1.4; P for trend <0.01) and glycemic load (OR = 1.3; P < 0.01). High glycemic index foods, such as white bread, increased the risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.3) while the intake of pasta, a medium glycemic index food, seemed to have no influence (OR = 1.0). Findings were consistent across different strata of menopausal status, alcohol intake, and physical activity level. Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis of moderate, direct associations between glycemic index or glycemic load and breast cancer risk and, consequently, a possible role of hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance in breast cancer development. RI Jenkins, David/A-1992-2009; Parpinel, Maria/B-1605-201

Glycemic index and load and risk of upper aero-digestive tract neoplasms (Italy)

Background: The ability of dietary carbohydrates to affect blood glucose and insulin levels by dietary carbohydrates is best measured by the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) which have been directly associated with risk of several chronic conditions, including cancer. Patients and methods: Three case - control studies were conducted between 1992 and 2000 in Italy. The first one included 598 hospital patients with incident, histologically confirmed oral and pharyngeal cancer and 1491 controls admitted to the same hospital networks for acute, non-neoplastic diseases; the second study included 304 subjects with squamous cell oesophageal cancer and 743 controls; the third one included 460 cases with laryngeal cancer and 1088 controls. All subjects were interviewed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Results: The odds ratios ( OR) of upper aero-digestive tract neoplasms for the highest versus the lowest quintile of dietary GI and GL were 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 - 2.0) and 1.8 ( 95% CI: 1.1 - 2.9), respectively. The associations were in the same direction for various cancer sites. The ORs were apparently stronger in women, in those with high body mass index and reporting low alcohol consumption. Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis that high dietary GI and GL are associated with cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract. RI Jenkins, David/A-1992-200

Relationship between a plant-based dietary portfolio and risk of cardiovascular disease : findings from the women’s health initiative prospective cohort study

202202 bcvcVersion of RecordOthersThe Women's Health Initiative (WHI) was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through contracts HHSN268201600018C, HHSN268201600002C, HHSN268201600003C, HHSN268201600004C, and R01DK125403 (SL). Glenn was supported by the Nora Martin Fellowship in Nutritional Sciences, the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre Tamarack Graduate Award in Diabetes Research, the Peterborough K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation Graduate Award and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Sievenpiper was funded by a Diabetes Canada Clinician Scientist Award. Lo was supported by Start‐up Fund for RAPs under the Strategic Hiring Scheme (Grant number: BD8H). Funders had no role in the study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, the writing of the report, and the decision to submit the article for publication.Publishe

Effect of individualised dietary advice for weight loss supplemented with walnuts on blood pressure: the HealthTrack study

Background/objectives: In addition to weight-loss, healthy dietary patterns and lower sodium intakes can help reduce blood pressure (BP), but individualised dietary advice may be necessary to achieve these effects. This study aimed to examine the impact of individualised dietary advice on BP in the intensive phase of a weight-loss trial. Subjects/methods: Secondary analysis of baseline and 3-month data from the HealthTrack randomised controlled trial (n = 211). Participants were randomly assigned to one of three dietary advice groups: general advice (control), individualised advice (intervention group, I), or intervention group supplemented with 30 g walnuts/day (IW). Resting BP and 24-h urine sodium and potassium were measured. Dietary intake was evaluated through diet history interviews. Results: Unadjusted SBP reduced significantly in all groups (IW and I groups P \u3c 0.001; control group P = 0.002) and DBP in IW and I groups (P \u3c 0.001). Compared to controls, the reductions in BP were 3-4 mmHg greater in the I and IW groups, but this only reached significance for DBP in the I group (−3.3 mmHg; P = 0.041). After controlling for age, sex, medication, weight-loss, physical activity and smoking, only the IW group showed a significant association between SBP reduction and increased urinary potassium (β = −0.101, P = 0.044), decreased sodium:potassium ratio (β = 2.446, P = 0.037) and increased consumption of seed and nut products and dishes (β = −0.108, P = 0.034). Conclusions: Dietary patterns with distinctive foods and lower sodium:potassium ratios may enhance the effects of weight-loss on BP. The patterns were best achieved with individualised dietary advice and food supplements