Lots of buzz this week about dietary fiber during adolescence and breast cancer risk.
The study, “Increased Fiber Intake Decreases Premenopausal Breast Cancer Risk,” was released online ahead of print, and will be in next month’s Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The data for this study came out of the Nurse’s Health Study II, a large prospective study (a study of a people being followed forward in time) of female nurses. Women in the study were asked to report their diets during adolescence. Those reporting the highest intake of fiber during adolescence were less likely to have developed invasive breast cancer.
It is really awesome to think that eating more vegetables and fiber during youth can lead to lifelong good health!
The major limitation of the study may be immediately obvious to you. For a hint, ask me what I was eating when I was in this picture!
Women in their 30s and 40s were asked to report what they were eating as adolescents, which has potential for inaccuracy. For us in medicine and research, these types of associations are encouraging and point us in the right direction for future research.
In the meantime, the article asked us as pediatricians to continue to encourage high-fiber diets (including vegetables!) in our kids.
Let’s do it! More fiber — it’s EasyPeasie!
Sincerely,
The Peas