Red Meat and Breast Cancer: Long-Term Follow-Up Adds to the Evidence

Abstract

Intakes of animal protein, particularly meat has been associated with higher risk of breast cancer and mortality in ecological studies, but data from long-term prospective studies are limited. Recently some more evidence has emerged linking high meat consumption with increased mortality. According to longer-term follow-up from the Nurses Health Study II, published in BMJ recently, high red meat consumption in early adulthood is associated with increased risk for breast cancer. This population based cohort study links high intake of red and processed meat with increased deaths from all causes and from nine specific ones. JMS 2014;17(1):45-46