It was generally accepted that a young girl’s transition into womanhood and the accompanying increase in estrogen spurred breast development and impacted the risk of breast cancer later in life.

But a new study sheds light on another mechanism that may stimulate breast growth and development and increase the risk of breast cancer—early life diet and metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome represents a group of symptoms associated with obesity including weight gain, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol that can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

To mimic the effects of metabolic syndrome, the researchers fed mice a fatty acid known as 10, 12, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The 10, 12 CLA was added to the diet of the test mice because it is known to disrupt normal metabolic processes. In this study, the supplement stimulated the mammary ducts to grow, despite the fact that the mice lacked estrogen.

The diet-induced breast development also increased the formation of mammary tumors in some of the mice.

"The findings of this study are particularly important when we superimpose them on data showing that girls are experiencing breast development at earlier ages, coincident with a growing epidemic of childhood obesity," said Russ Hovey, senior author on the study.

Source:

Science Daily

The Mediterranean diet, originally promoted for its cardiovascular benefits, has also been shown to reduce the risk factors for cancer, diabetes and obesity.  Experts believe these benefits are due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of the foods associated with the diet.

The Mediterranean diet is high in monounsaturated fats like olive oil and includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fish and is low in animal fats. 

The latest research conducted at Harakopio University in Athens pooled findings from 50 different studies involving a total of more than 500,000 patients and found the diet had beneficial effects against five components of a prediabetic condition called the metabolic syndrome. The components include increased waist circumference, high blood pressure and blood sugar, low levels of HDL or good cholesterol and high triglycerides.  The analysis found that adherence to a Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of developing metabolic syndrome by 31%.

Now that we’ve convinced you that the Mediterranean diet is worth trying, how do put it into practice?   You might want to start by visiting the Mediterranean Food Alliance website.  It contains abundant resources such as staple foods, menus, recipes, shopping lists and more.  Here’s one recipe from the site to get you started More...

Seems that vegan by day meme some folks are calling the flexitarian movement is picking up speed in the pop health zeitgeist.

Too bad, that flexible approach to dieting may only alleviate some signs of health problems, like the cluster of poor health symptoms that lead to metabolic syndrome.

An analysis of 773 patients (average age 60) -- 35 percent were vegetarians, 16 percent were flexitarians, while the rest were meat-eaters -- comparing BMI, waist size, blood pressure and other blood characteristics (sugars, fats) concluded the full-time non-meat eaters enjoyed a distinct advantage in all the markers for metabolic syndrome, save cholesterol.

No surprise, 39 full-time meat-eating patients out of every 100 shared at least three measurements associated with metabolic syndrome. Unfortunately, being a flexitarian lowered those patient markers for metabolic syndrome by a measly 2 to 37. Even the lead researcher was surprised to discover the huge separation in obvious risk factors between meat-eaters or part-timers and full-time vegetarians, as only 23 out of 100 in the latter group shared three or more markers.

To be clear, the meat/no-meat gap is merely an association, scientists say, and the study didn't track patients over the long haul to learn whether vegetarians were better equipped to avoid diabetes and heart disease, but it can certainly help patients fighting chronic kidney disease.

Sources:

Diabetes Care March 16, 2011

Yahoo News April 1, 2011

For girls who survive cancer -- for the most part a given, since 80 percent of kids who undergo cancer treatments achieve long-term survival -- one of the best things they can do as adults for their health is to breastfeed her children whenever possible, if for no other reason than to counteract the negative effects of their earlier treatments, according to a recent study.

Based on a review of previous research, scientists believe breastfeeding may allow women to avoid or at least lessen some late effects -- side effects that occur more than five years after a cancer diagnosis due to chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy -- of their cancer treatments. Among them:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Bone mineral density
• Metabolic syndrome risk factors
• Secondary tumors

Researchers also noted other things women can do to protect their health, specifically from the lasting effects of their cancer treatments. No surprise, we touch on many of these health-affirming habits -- better nutrition, exercise and safe sun exposure -- often in this space.

Journal of Cancer Survivorship January 21, 2011

healthfinder.gov January 25, 2011

ScienceDaily January 21, 2011

We already knew fructose-based sweeteners contributed mightily to the cluster of conditions known as metabolic syndrome. The alarming theme of this newest study, that reviewed health data on more than 6,000 adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), is not only how those added sugars hiding in processed foods escalate your risks of cardiovascular disease, but how much of them you're eating every day.

The average American's daily consumption of added sugars via processed foods was 3.2 ounces, which doesn't seem like much until you realize that amounts to more than 350 calories and 21 teaspoons of sugar. That's almost 16 percent of your day-to-day caloric intake, representing a jump of about a third based on estimates made some three decades ago.

That's not all: The largest average daily consumption of added sugars among five patient groups was 46 teaspoons. Unfortunately, you won't have to imagine what 46 teaspoons of sugar looks like after watching this illuminating and alarming video from the JAMA Archives.

Just a reminder, sugar isn't the only food additive folks are over-consuming to the detriment of their health.

Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 330, No. 15, pp. 1490-1497, April 21, 2010

USA Today April 21, 2010

ScienceDaily April 22, 2010

With research growing about the many health benefits connected with following a Mediterranean diet, Spanish researchers may have discovered a genetic reason why it works so well for Europeans. And, it's linked to their consumption of virgin olive oil.

Twenty patients, suffering from the cluster of symptoms related to heart disease, stroke and diabetes better known as metabolic syndrome, ate controlled olive oil-based breakfasts with low or high amounts of phenolic compounds.

The connection: Olive oils contain beneficial micronutrients known as phenols, and extra virgin varieties have been found to possess more of them. Previous studies have shown how extra virgin olive oils reduce a number of damaging, pro-inflammatory markers in the human body.

Ninety-eight different genes were identified in the presence of foods cooked with phenol-rich, virgin olive oil, many of them linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Even better, the phenols in extra virgin olive oil repressed some of these pro-inflammatory processes, suggesting that a targeted diet can switch the activity of immune system cells to a less harmful inflammatory profile, scientists say.

These findings add to the growing body of knowledge (pun intended) supporting the belief that what you eat can directly affect your health.

BMC Genomics, Vol. 11, No. 253, April 20, 2010 Free Full Text PDF

ScienceDaily April 22, 2010

Daily Mail April 23, 2010

After comparing the effects of five different sweeteners on the health of rats, University of Washington scientists discovered consumption of fructose-based products may trigger biological changes that can lead to the development of syndrome x, the cluster of symptoms that increase a patient's risks of diabetes, stroke and heart disease better known as metabolic syndrome.

Rats were given plain water or water sweetened with either high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), Stevia, fructose, agave syrup (90 percent fructose) or a Hoodia-HFCS mix, three nights a week for 10 weeks.

Although the body weights of these animals didn't increase over the test period, levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase jumped significantly among rats fed HFCS and fructose, a sign of possible liver disease or damage.

Even though cholesterol levels remained within normal levels, they were higher among rats consuming HFCS and fructose. Significantly higher triglyceride levels were measured in rats who drank water laced with either HFCS, HFCS with Hoodia and agave.

Physiology & Behavior, Vol. 98, No. 7, pp. 618-624, December 7, 2009

FoodNavigator.com November 9, 2009