Vegetables and Fruits and the Risk of Breast Cancer Fact Sheet No. 18

Abstract

Recent studies have challenged prior thinking about the relationship between vegetable and fruit consumption and breast cancer risk. The addition of the results of recent cohort studies to the body of evidence on this subject suggests that fruit consumption is not associated with breast cancer risk while the role of vegetable consumption is unclear. It may or may not be associated with a decrease in breast cancer risk, and if an association of vegetable consumption with breast cancer risk exists, it is small. Comparisons of women eating a Western-style vegetarian diet compared to those eating conventional Western diets have also not detected any association with breast cancer risk. However, high consumption of vegetables after breast cancer diagnosis shows promise for decreasing the risk of death for survivors, but more study is needed before this effect is established. Numerous health benefits are associated with eating vegetables and fruits, including a lower risk of other cancers, decreased risk of heart disease, and may improve diabetes control and maintenance of a healthy body weight.