CURRENT EVIDENCE ON THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF DIETARY
POLYPHENOLS ON BREAST CANCER
CONCETTINA FENGA1*, CHIARA COSTA2, EMANUELA CARUSO1, LUIGI RAFFA1, CARMELA ALIBRANDO1, SILVIA GANGEMI1, ANCA OANA DOCEA3, ARISTIDIS MICHAEL TSATSAKIS4
1 Department of Biomedical, Odontoiatric, Morphological and Functional Images, Occupational Medicine Section,
University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy
2Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy
3Departament of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Petru Rares Street, Craiova,
200349, Romania
4Laboratory of Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, Heraklion, 71409, Crete, Greece
*corresponding author: cfenga@unime.it
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Abstract:
Epidemiological studies suggest that regular consumption of polyphenols, commonly contained in fruits and vegetables, is
associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer (BC). Many epidemiological evidences suggest that the beneficial effect of a
dietary pattern is attributable, at least in part, to phytochemicals which have antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. Since
polyphenols are known to possess these properties, they have been hypothesized to contribute to the lower incidence of breast
cancer. In this review the findings of 12 studies, including six case-control and six cohort studies are summarized and
discussed. The results suggest that it is not yet possible to assess with certainty the effect of the Mediterranean diet (MD) on
breast cancer (BC) risk in relation also to the individual characteristics such as genetic susceptibility, menopausal status,
lifestyle and epigenetic modifications. Given the current evidences, further epidemiological studies on the relationship
between polyphenols intake and BC risk are required.

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