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# Breast cancer linked to dietary saturated fat
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/breast_cancer_linked_to_dietary_saturated_fat_1027120927/
- Published: 2012-10-26T22:26:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:18:16.000Z
- Description: Measuring hormones in 393 premenopausal Japanese women with regular cycles, researchers found higher saturated fat intake significantly associated with higher total and free estradiol. Other fats, fiber, soy isoflavones and alcohol showed no such correlation.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Friday Oct 26, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new [study ](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22399233?ref=foodconsumer.org)in Cancer Causes and Control found high intake of saturated fat associated with high levels of a female sex hormone, potentially increasing risk of breast cancer ,in premenopausal women.

The study led by M. Tsuji of Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine in Gifu, Gifu, Japan and colleagues conducted the study and found saturated fat intake was significantly positively associated with total estradiol and free estradiol levels. Estrogens including estrodiol have been linked to high risk of breast cancer.

For the study, researchers measured serum estradiol, estrone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, sex hormone-binding globulin, prolactin, a follicle-stimulating hormone and a luteinizing hormone in 393 premenopausale women who had regular menstrual periods. Dietary information was collected from each participant through a validated food frequency questionnaire.

After adjustment for age, body mass index, the menstrual cycle, the number of births, age at first birth, breastfeeding, and smoking, women who ate more saturated fat had significantly high serum levels of total estradiol and free estradiol. 

In contrast, intakes of other fats, dietary fiber, soy isoflavones, and alcoholic beverages were not significantly correlated with serum levels of any hormone.

The researchers concluded "These data suggest that a high intake of saturated fat is associated with increased estradiol levels in premenopausal Japanese women. Saturated fat intake may have implications in the etiology of breast cancer."

[Estradiol ](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estradiol?ref=foodconsumer.org)is one of the most important estrogens during the reproductive years of a woman. Estrogen is known to promote breast cancer.

This study suggests that to prevent breast cancer, one may consider reducing intake of saturated fat, which is found higher in animal meat than plant foods.

Also, trans fat or otherwise known as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil and ruminant trans fat found in cow milk and meat may increase risk of breast cancer, according to a [study ](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22821174?ref=foodconsumer.org)led by I. Laake at Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo in Oslo, Norway and colleagues, and published in International Journal of Cancer.

Saturated fat is also linked to heart disease and diabetes mellitus type 2.