Adolescent diet showed associations with adult breast cancer risk
Some adolescent food intakes were linked to lower breast cancer risk later in life, but most studies relied on adults remembering what they ate as teenagers.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Higher adolescent intakes of fruit and vegetables, soy, fiber and vegetable fat were associated with lower breast cancer risk in adulthood. Many other dietary exposures had no statistically significant association. These findings suggest possible relationships across life stages, but they do not establish that changing a teenager's diet will prevent breast cancer.
Most studies used adult recall of adolescent diet, and only 20 studies were rated high quality. These features limit confidence in the associations and their interpretation as evidence about prevention.
What researchers found
Adult breast cancer risk
Relative risk for higher adolescent fiber intake versus unspecified reference intake, pooled from 3 studies. Outcome assessed in adulthood; exact follow-up unreported. Absolute risk differences are unavailable.
Separate outcomes need separate interpretations
The review also examined benign breast disease and mammographic breast density. Fiber and vitamin D intake were associated with lower benign breast disease risk, while breast density showed no dietary associations. Neither endpoint is a breast cancer diagnosis.
Null results remain relevant
Several exposures, including meat, fish, dairy, grains and total fat, showed no statistically significant breast cancer association. Those results do not prove the foods have no effect; they describe what this abstract-based evidence could establish.
The original publication
Adolescent Dietary Intake and Breast Cancer in Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Lim GH, Tan YCRS, Lee E et al.
Adv Nutr · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40865868
- Record checked
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