The Effect of Dietary Products with Estrogenic Properties on Breast Cancer in Women Over 50

Abstract

My test question is to what extent do dietary products with estrogenic properties affect the development of breast cancer in women over the age of 50 in the United States? Therefore, from this research question, my hypothesis is that breast cancer risk and diets that increase estrogen levels are correlated strongly with one another for women over age 50. I utilized correlational research to analyze if foods that women eat on a daily basis correlate with their levels of estradiol in one data set and thus analyze if these increased estradiol levels affect breast cancer risk. In order to do this, I looked at pre-existing data from a variety of medical journals. Results show that as estrogen dietary pattern score increased, breast cancer risk increased.  Also, a western diet (red meat, high estrogenic diets) can increase breast cancer risk significantly and that a prudent diet (vegetables, fruits) does not affect the risk. During this research study, the most important limitation is that only studies from published medical journals were used. Some studies were not published online meaning the results remained private. Overall, my results of this study suggested that breast cancer risk and diets that increase estrogen levels are in fact correlated strongly with one another for women over age 50. The results of this study inspire further inquiry into medical applications of diets with estrogenic properties.  Additionally, more studies can show how other hormones are correlated with breast cancer risk, and if so which kind of foods.