High-fat diet in puberty may up breast cancer risk
Eating a high-fat diet in puberty may increase the risk of
aggressive breast cancer in younger adult women, a new study has warned.
Researchers from the Michigan State University also found that this type of
diet can speed up the development of breast cancer.
Utilising a preclinical model, the findings indicate that
before any tumours appear, there are changes in the breast that include
increased cell growth and alterations in immune cells.
These changes persist into adulthood and can lead to the
rapid development of precancerous lesions and ultimately breast cancer. In
addition to the accelerated breast cancer development, this type of diet
produces a distinct gene signature in the tumours consistent with a subset of
breast cancers known as basal-like that can carry a worse prognosis.
"This is very significant because even though the
cancers arise from random mutations, the gene signature indicating a basal-like
breast cancer shows the overarching and potent influence this type of diet has
in the breast," said Sandra Haslam, physiology professor in MSU's College
of Human Medicine and one of the lead investigators of the project.
"Cancers of this type are more aggressive in nature and
typically occur in younger women. This highlights the significance of our work
toward efforts against the disease," she said.
"It's important to note that since our experimental
model did not involve any weight gain from the high-fat diet, these findings
are relevant to a much broader segment of the population than just those who
are overweight," said co-lead researcher Richard Schwartz, microbiology
professor and associate dean in the College of Natural Science.
"This shows the culprit is the fat itself rather than
weight gain," said Schwartz. Early evidence indicates that the fat, which
in this case was saturated animal fat, could potentially have permanent effects
even if a low-fat diet is introduced later in life.
Schwartz cautioned, however, that this preliminary finding requires
further investigation and doesn't indicate with certainty that humans will be
affected in the same way. "Overall, our current research indicates that
avoiding excessive dietary fat of this type may help lower one's risk of breast
cancer down the road," he said.
The study is published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.
Source: www.indianexpress.com
30.11.2013
Obesity may up risk of hearing loss in women
Obesity may increase the risk of hearing loss in women,
while exercising may lower it, a new study has claimed. A higher body mass
index (BMI) and larger waist circumference are each associated with higher risk
of hearing loss, while a higher level of physical activity is associated with
lower risk of hearing loss in women, scientists have found.
"We often think of hearing loss as an inevitable part
of the ageing process, but these findings provide evidence that potentially
modifiable risk factors, such as maintaining a healthy weight and staying
physically active, may help in the prevention of hearing loss or delay its
progression," said Sharon Curhan, lead author of the study paper.
Using data from 68,421 women who were followed from 1989 to
2009, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) analysed information
on BMI, waist circumference, physical activity, and self-reported hearing loss.
The baseline and updated information was obtained through
validated biennial questionnaires.
Researchers found that women with a BMI of 30-34 had a
relative risk for hearing loss that was 17 per cent higher, and with a BMI of
40 or more had a relative risk that was 25 per cent higher, when compared with
those with a BMI of less than 25.
For women with waist circumference 80-88 cm, the relative
risk for hearing loss was 11 per cent higher and with waist circumference
greater than 88 cm the relative risk was 27 per cent higher when compared with
women with waist circumference less than 71 cm. Researchers also found that
higher level of physical activity was associated with lower risk.
Compared with women who were the least physically active,
women who were the most physically active had a 17 per cent lower risk of
hearing loss.
Walking, which was the most common form of physical activity
reported among these women, was associated with lower risk; walking two hours
per week or more was associated with a 15 per cent lower risk of hearing loss,
compared with walking less than one hour per week.
According to the World Health Organisation, 360 million people have
disabling hearing loss, a condition that is often considered to be an
unavoidable side effect of ageing, researchers said.
The study was published in The American Journal of Medicine.
Source: www.indianexpress.com 30.11.2013
When the road is long, when the challenges are great, that is your
chance to truly shine
Ralph Marston
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