Author(s)

Kerryn W. Reding, Charlotte Atkinson, Kim C. Westerlind, Frank Stanczyk, Erin J. Aiello Bowles, Mellissa Yong, Katherine M. Newton, Johanna W. Lampe

Center for Observational Research, Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, USA.
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, USA.
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
Lifecourse Epidemiology & Population Oral Health Research, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, USA.
School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

Urinary concentrations of 2:16-hydroxyestrone (2:16-OHE₁) approximate concentrations of 2-OHE₁ and 16α-OHE₁ in breast tissue. As estrogens are purported to be involved in breast cancer development, the 2:16-OHE₁ ratio can provide an indication of estrogen metabolite exposure in the breast. With prior studies observing associations between urinary estrogen metabolites and dietary intakeof fruits, vegetables, and fiberascertained from food questionnaires, we examined associations between dietary factors ascertained through 3-day food records and urinary 2:16-OHE₁ in191 pre-menopausal healthy women. Fruit consumption was positively associated with 2:16-OHE₁ after adjustment for total energy, ethnicity, body mass index, parity, smoking history, and serum estradiol (p = 0.003). Fruit consumption was positively associated with 2-OHE₁ concentrations (p = 0.006), but was not associated with 16α-OHE1 (p = 0.92). The Musaceae botanical grouping (comprised primarily of bananas) was positively associated with the 2:16-OHE₁ ratio, and Rosaceae (comprised of citrus fruits) and Musaceae botanical groupings were positively associated with 2-OHE1 (but not 16α-OHE₁) concentrations, after adjustment for confounders. Our data suggest that dietary fruit intakeis associated with urinary 2-OHE1 and the 2:16-OHE₁ ratio and that breast tissue exposure to estrogen metabolites may thus be influenced-by diet.

Estrogen Metabolism; Diet; Botanical Groupings

Reding, K. , Atkinson, C. , Westerlind, K. , Stanczyk, F. , Bowles, E. , Yong, M. , Newton, K. and Lampe, J. (2012) Fruit intake associated with urinary estrogen metabolites in healthy premenopausal women. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2, 1-8. doi: 10.4236/ojpm.2012.21001.