Dietary Fat Intake and Risk of Uterine Leiomyomata: A Prospective Ultrasound Study. Issue 12 (17th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brasky, Theodore M; Bethea, Traci N; Wesselink, Amelia K; Wegienka, Ganesa R; Baird, Donna D; Wise, Lauren A
• Is Part Of: American journal of epidemiology. Volume 189:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 1538
• Page End: 1546
• Publication Date: 2020-06-17
• Subjects: cohort -- diet -- fat -- uterine leiomyoma -- ω-3 fatty acids; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa097
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9262

Abstract

Abstract: Uterine leiomyomata (UL) are associated with severe reproductive morbidity and are the primary indication for hysterectomy in the United States. A recent prospective cohort study of Black women reported positive associations between intakes of marine-sourced ω -3 fatty acids and UL risk. We examined whether intakes of dietary fat were associated with UL incidence in a 5-year prospective study of premenopausal Black women living in Detroit who underwent serial ultrasound. At baseline (2010–2012) and 20, 40, and 60 months of follow-up, participants underwent transvaginal ultrasound. Among 1, 171 UL-free women at baseline, incident UL were detected in 277 women. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association of dietary fat and UL incidence. Intakes of total fat and saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and trans -fat were not appreciably associated with UL incidence. Intake of the marine ω -3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid, was associated with 49% higher UL incidence (quartile 4 vs. 1: hazard ratio = 1.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.04, 2.14; P for trend = 0.01). Intakes of total marine ω -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were similarly associated with elevated UL incidence (hazard ratio = 1.35, 95% confidence interval: 0.94, 1.93; P for trend = 0.03). It remains unclear whether the fatty acids or persistent environmental pollutants drive the association.