Medical researchers in Italy say women who take charge of their diet may be able to significantly reduce their risk of breast cancer.
Writing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, scientists at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan say low intake of key vitamins such as A and E were found to be a factor along with high alcohol intake and lack of exercise or other physical activity.
Lead study author Dr. Maura Mezzetti says that by changing a "few selected lifestyle factors," it's "conceivable, at least in principle, to prevent an appreciable proportion" of cases of breast cancer.
The researchers looked at more than 5,000 women hospitalized with breast cancer and other diseases. Their key findings: 8.6 percent of cases were attributed to low vitamin E intake, 15 percent were linked to low vitamin A use, 11.6 percent to lack of exercise, and 10.7 percent to high alcohol use. Excessive weight or obesity was tied to 10 percent of the cases studied.
