Dietary Fat Intake: Associations with Dietary Patterns and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer—A Case-Control Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in females worldwide. Although fat has been hypothesized to be involved in BC etiology, the results of available studies are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of dietary fat intake, including an individual’s percentage of energy from dietary fat (Pfat) with peri- and postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) occurrence in women. The associations between Pfat and dietary patterns (DPs) were also examined. The current findings strengthen reports that a higher dietary fat intake may contribute to an increased incidence of BC, which indicates a need to reduce dietary fat intake in cancer prevention. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess the associations of dietary fat intake with BC occurrence and dietary patterns. This case-control study involved 420 women aged 40–79 years from northeastern Poland, including 190 newly diagnosed BC cases. Dietary data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire (62-item FFQ-6(®)). The Quick Food Scan of the National Cancer Institute and the Percentage Energy from Fat Screener scoring procedures were used to estimate the percentage energy from dietary fat (Pfat). The odds of BC occurrence was three times higher in the Pfat > 32%. The Pfat > 32% was positively associated with the ‘Non-Healthy’ DP and inversely associated with the Polish-aMED(®) score, ‘Prudent’ DP, and ‘Margarine and Sweetened Dairy’ DP. This case-control study suggests that a higher dietary fat intake (>32%) may contribute to an increased occurrence of peri- and postmenopausal breast cancer in women. Given the obtained results, an unhealthy dietary pattern characterized by the consumption of highly processed, high in sugar foods and animal fat foods should be avoided to reduce fat intake. Instead, the frequent consumption of low-processed plant foods, fish, and moderate consumption of low-fat dairy should be recommended since this pro-healthy diet is inversely associated with dietary fat intake.