Abstract
Diet is a modifiable component of lifestyle that could influence breast cancer development. The Mediterranean dietary pattern is considered one of the healthiest of all dietary patterns. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet protects against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Reported consumption of a Mediterranean diet pattern was associated with lower breast cancer risk for women with all subtypes of breast cancer, and a Western diet pattern was associated with greater risk. In this review, we contrast the available epidemiological breast cancer data, comparing the impact of consuming a Mediterranean diet to the Western diet. Furthermore, we will review the preclinical data highlighting the anticancer molecular mechanism of Mediterranean diet consumption in both cancer prevention and therapeutic outcomes. Diet composition is a major constituent shaping the gut microbiome. Distinct patterns of gut microbiota composition are associated with the habitual consumption of animal fats, high-fiber diets, and vegetable-based diets. We will review the impact of Mediterranean diet on the gut microbiome and inflammation. Outside of the gut, we recently demonstrated that Mediterranean diet consumption led to distinct microbiota shifts in the mammary gland tissue, suggesting possible anticancer effects by diet on breast-specific microbiome. Taken together, these data support the anti-breast-cancer impact of Mediterranean diet consumption.
Highlights
It is predicted that there will be 15 million newly diagnosed cases of cancer and 12 million cancer patient deaths in 2020 [1]
Epidemiological data supports the critical impact of dietary pattern on breast cancer risk; Western dietary pattern (WeD)
Consumption elevates breast cancer risk, while consumption of a Mediterranean dietary (MeD) reduces breast cancer risk. These could be due to several possible key molecular mechanisms; we propose that the regulation of the gut and mammary microbiome may be a key influencer on the anticancer role of MeD
Summary
It is predicted that there will be 15 million newly diagnosed cases of cancer and 12 million cancer patient deaths in 2020 [1]. Lifestyle choices are a major target of this research, and it is estimated that 35% of all cancer deaths may be caused by dietary factors [2]. Obesity is associated with 14% of cancer deaths in males and 20% in females, though dietary intake (i.e., red meat intake) regardless of body weight is heavily correlated with cancer risk and prognosis [4]. This correlation between dietary intake and cancer risk is well reported. It is estimated that approximately 30% to 50% of all cancer cases could be prevented by practicing healthy lifestyle habits and minimizing exposure to cancer risk factors [6]. Recommendations include reducing exposure to the following dietary components: processed red meats, refined sugars, carbohydrates, fat, and excessive alcohol [7]
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