From the 'everything causes cancer' files: Breast cancer risk tied to grandmother's diet

[The Straight Story]

Breast cancer risk tied to grandmother's diet
April 19, 2010

Eating too much fat in pregnancy may be an indulgence that has a less-than-beneficial effect on generations to come, say researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Their unique study in rats shows that pregnant females that ate a high fat diet not only increased breast cancer risk in their female daughters but also in that daughter's offspring - the "granddaughters." Details of the study will be presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010.

The researchers say they don't know why this risk is passed on through two generations, but they believe it occurs through as-yet unknown "epigenetic" changes that result in an increase in terminal end buds in the breast tissue - an increase that apparently can then be passed on through generations. These buds are believed to be the structures where breast cancer can develop, and having more of these structures seems to increase breast cancer risk, says the study's lead investigator, Sonia de Assis, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Leena Hilakivi-Clarke's laboratory at Lombardi. "That is our theory, but we really don't know how it is happening - just yet."

The researchers add that while the grandmother ate a diet that was 43 percent fat, she didn't eat more calories than a control population of rats, and both her daughters and granddaughters ate a normal chow.

http://www.physorg.com/news190816402.html

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. too much.

[KT2000]

2. I think this will be the trend

in understanding cancer.
One thing to remember about fat is that it is the storehouse for some toxic chemicals. Some leave the body but some are stored in the body's fat and are released into the bloodstream during times of stress, dieting and overlaod of chemicals. They are passed to the fetus during pregnancy and the child during breastfeeding.

When we eat animal fat we are also eating the chemicals that animal was exposed to that have been stored in the fat. Hormone mimicing chemicals are some that are stored in fat - in animals and humans.

[Withywindle]

3. My grandmother, my last living grandparent, is turning 90 next month.

She married my grandfather during WWII, right before he shipped out, and gave birth to my father shortly after.

I admire the lady to a great degree (although not her politics) but DAMN, she's one of the worst cooks in the western hemisphere. My dad (born 1944) was in his mid-20s before he realized that 'scones' weren't supposed to be dry hockey pucks that'll break your teeth out, that beef pot roast wasn't supposed to be 'meat chewing gum' where every mouthful lasts half an hour, and that canned green beans weren't supposed to be the magic flavor saver for every meal gone wrong.

[canetoad]

4. Funny, this article says it's multi-vitamins

Vitamins linked to breast cancer: study
April 18, 2010

AAP

A major study has revealed that women who take a daily multi-vitamin pill are nearly 20 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer.

The shock finding has rattled Australia's $2.5 billion complementary health industry, which is urging consumers not to panic, News Ltd says.

In a 10-year study of more than 35,000 women, researchers discovered those who regularly took a multi-vitamin pill increased the risk of developing a tumour by 19 per cent.

They said the result was concerning and needed investigation as many women use multi-vitamins in the belief they prevent chronic diseases such as cancer. A "biologically plausible" explanation is that taking vitamin and mineral supplements significantly increases the density of breast tissue, a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Folic acid, often present in a potent form in multi-vitamins, may also accelerate tumour growth.
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/vitamins-linked-to-breast-cancer-study-20100418-slsd.html