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Although many studies have documented the antitumor activities of mushrooms, the association between mushroom intake and breast cancer, defined by hormone receptor status, has received minimal empirical investigation. This study evaluated the association between mushroom intake and the risk of breast cancer according to hormone receptor status among Korean women. Mushroom intake and breast cancer risk were examined among 358 breast cancer patients and 360 cancer-free controls. Intake of mushrooms was assessed using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Greater mushroom intake was related to lower risk of breast cancers among premenopausal women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13-0.91 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile intake). The association was stronger for premenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)+/progesterone receptor (PR) + tumors (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.11-0.79 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile intake) than those with ER-/PR- tumors. Our results suggest that high consumption of mushrooms might be related to lower risks for breast cancers among premenopausal women; this association may be more robust among women with hormone receptor positive tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Disturbances in redox regulation are suggested to be involved in the development of breast cancer. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study to examine the hypothesis that lower plasma antioxidant concentration is related to higher risk of breast cancer and that genetic polymorphism of manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) modifies the relationship between breast cancer risk and plasma antioxidant. Genotyping for SOD2 Val16Ala polymorphism was performed by a 5′ exonuclease assay, and plasma concentrations of retinol, carotenoids, and tocopherols were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and multivariate odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval. The variant allele frequencies of SOD2 Val16Ala (TC or CC type) were 26% for the control subjects and 23% for the breast cancer patients, and the variant genotype was not a risk factor for breast cancer. Higher plasma retinol concentration was associated with a lower risk, whereas higher plasma β-carotene, α-tocopherol, or γ-tocopherol concentrations were associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. SOD2 CT or CC genotype was associated with lower risk (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.93; P for interaction = .025) in subjects with low plasma γ-tocopherol concentration. Our findings suggest that the SOD2 Val16Ala variant is not related to the risk of breast cancer in Korean women; however, it may affect the association between plasma γ-tocopherol levels and the risk of breast cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Although it is believed that fish omega-3 fatty acids may decrease breast cancer risk, epidemiological evidence has been inconclusive. This study examined the association between fish and fish omega-3 fatty acids intake with the risk of breast cancer in a case-control study of Korean women., Methods: We recruited 358 incident breast cancer patients and 360 controls with no history of malignant neoplasm from the National Cancer Center Hospital between July 2007 and April 2008. The study participants were given a 103-item food intake frequency questionnaire to determine their dietary consumption of fish (fatty and lean fish) and omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA))., Results: Using a multivariate logistic regression model, high intake of fatty fish was associated with a reduced risk for breast cancer in both pre- and postmenopausal women (OR [95% CI] for highest vs. lowest intake quartiles, p for trend: 0.19 [0.08 to 0.45], p < 0.001 for premenopausal women, 0.27 [0.11 to 0.66], p = 0.005 for postmenopausal women). Similarly, reductions in breast cancer risk were observed among postmenopausal subjects who consumed more than 0.101 g of EPA (OR [95% CI]: 0.38 [0.15 to 0.96]) and 0.213 g of DHA (OR [95% CI]: 0.32 [0.13 to 0.82]) from fish per day compared to the reference group who consumed less than 0.014 g of EPA and 0.037 g of DHA per day. Among premenopausal women, there was a significant reduction in breast cancer risk for the highest intake quartiles of omega-3 fatty acids (ORs [95% CI]: 0.46 [0.22 to 0.96]), compared to the reference group who consumed the lowest quartile of intake., Conclusion: These results suggest that high consumption of fatty fish is associated with a reduced risk for breast cancer, and that the intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish is inversely associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk.

Background: Fractionation of a ginseng source to produce differences in the ginsenoside profile might influence its effect on postprandial glycemia. To explore this possibility and identify an efficacious ginseng for a longterm study, we conducted a preparation-finding study of different Korean red ginseng (KRG) root fractions followed by a dose-finding study of the most efficacious fraction., Methods: A double-blind, randomized, within-subject design was used in both studies. In the preparation-finding study, 7 healthy subjects (sex: 3m:4f, age: 32 +/- 4 y, BMI: 24 +/- 2 kg/m2) received 6 g placebo and KRG-rootlets, -body, and -H2O extract 40 min before a 50 g-OGTT with finger-prick blood samples at -40-, 0-, 15-, 30-, 45-, 60-, 90-, 120-min. In the dose-finding study, 12 healthy subjects (sex: 9M,3F, age: 29 +/- 3 y, BMI: 22.5 +/- 1 kg/m2) received 0 g (placebo), 2 g, 4 g, and 6 g of the most efficacious root fraction following the same protocol. Ginsenosides were analyzed using HPLC-UV., Results: In the preparation-finding study, a wide variation in the ginsenoside profiles was achieved across the 3 KRG fractions. This variation coincided with differential effects. The main effects of KRG-rootlets (p = 0.050) and time (p < 0.001) and their interaction (p < 0.1) were significant. This was reflected in a 29% reduction in area under the curve (AUC) by KRG-rootlets compared with placebo (p = 0.052). Conversely, neither KRG-H2O extract nor KRG-body affected glycemia. Stepwise-multiple regression models identified Rg1 as the sole predictor of mean- and AUC postprandial blood glucose. In the dose-finding study, KRG-rootlets were tested as the most efficacious fraction. A significant effect of KRG-rootlets treatment (mean of 3 doses) but not dose was found. The mean of 3 doses decreased AUC by 17% compared with placebo (p = 0.057)., Conclusions: Together the studies indicate 2 g KRG-rootlets is sufficient to achieve reproducible reductions in postprandial glycemia. But the longterm sustainability of KRG selected using this approach remains to be tested.