Butter

Caution

3 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Caution3 studies

Higher butter intake linked to increased breast cancer risk, especially premenopausal women

Three studies encompassing over 328,000 participants associate butter consumption with elevated breast cancer risk. The EPIC cohort study (319,826 women, 7,119 cases) found premenopausal women in the highest butter consumption quintile had a 28% increased risk (HR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06–1.53) compared to the lowest quintile. A case-control study (39 participants) identified butter as significantly associated with breast cancer (p < 0.05), alongside differences in monounsaturated (p = 0.017) and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake (p = 0.024). A nested case-control within the Nurses' Health Study (843 cases, ~8,430 controls) linked higher adolescent butter intake to increased adult breast cancer risk. The association appears strongest in premenopausal women, with the largest study showing no significant trend in postmenopausal or overall cohort analyses.

Evidence

PERBEDAAN POLA KONSUMSI LEMAK PADA PENDERITA KANKER PAYUDARA DENGAN BUKAN PENDERITA KANKER PAYUDARA DI RSUD DR MOEWARDI

Authors: Fahmi, Irawati

Published: May 7, 2013

A case-control study at RSUD Dr. Moewardi recruited 13 breast cancer patients and 26 controls, assessing dietary fat patterns through Food Frequency Questionnaires and 24-hour recall. Kolmogorov-Smirnov testing identified butter among nine specific foods significantly associated with breast cancer (p < 0.05). Ice cream, another high-fat dairy product, was also significant. While total fat intake did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.103), monounsaturated fatty acid (p = 0.017) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (p = 0.024) intakes showed significant between-group differences. The study used accidental sampling with 39 total participants.

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Meat, eggs, dairy products, and risk of breast cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort

Authors: Androniki Naska, Anja Olsen, Anne Tjønneland, Annika Steffen, Antonia Trichopoulou, Armstrong, Balsari, Bingham, Boeing, Bohlscheid-Thomas, Carla H van Gils, Carlos Alberto Gonzalez Svatetz, Carmen Navarro, Cerhan, Cho, Claudia Agnoli, Cochran, Cross, Cui, Cummings, Dagrun Engeset, Dominique S Michaud, Duncan, Egeberg, Eiliv Lund, Elio Riboli, Elisabet Wirfält, Elizabeth Spencer, EPIC Group of Spain, Eva Ardanaz, Ferrari, Franceschi, Franco Berrino, Françoise Clavel-Chapelon, Freudenheim, Friedenreich, Fränzel JB van Duijnhoven, Fung, Fung, Fung, Giovanna Masala, Gonzalez, Goodman, Graham Byrnes, Grambsch, Gray, Guri Skeie, Göran Hallmans, H Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, Haftenberger, Heiner Boeing, Hermann, Hirohata, Hirose, Hjartaker, Holmes, Isabelle Romieu, Iscovich, Jakob Linseisen, Jonas Manjer, Kaaks, Kaaks, Kabat, Kay-Tee Khaw, Key, Keys, Kim Overvad, Lauber, Laudina Rodriguez, Lichtenstein, Linos, Linos, Maria-José Sánchez, Marianne Uhre Jakobsen, Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault, Missmer, Mokbel, Morales Suarez-Varela, Ocke, Paolo Vineis, Per Lenner, Petra HM Peeters, Pietro Ferrari, Pilar Amiano, Pisani, Prieto-Ramos, Riboli, Riboli, Rohrmann, Ronco, Rosario Tumino, Sabina Rinaldi, Sabina Sieri, Sabine Rohrmann, Salvatore Panico, Sara Grioni, Shannon, Sheila Bingham, Shin, Sieri, Slimani, Slimani, Tajima, Taylor, Teresa Norat, Thompson, Timothy J Key, Touillaud, Tretli, Valeria Pala, van der Hel, Vassiliki Benetou, Vittorio Krogh, Willett, Wiseman, Women’s Health Initiative, World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research, Zhang, Zheng

Published: January 1, 2009

In subgroup analyses of the EPIC cohort (319,826 women, 7,119 breast cancer cases, median 8.8-year follow-up), premenopausal women in the highest quintile of butter consumption had a hazard ratio of 1.28 (95% CI: 1.06–1.53) compared to the lowest quintile, though the P for trend was 0.21. This association was limited to premenopausal women and was not observed in the overall cohort or postmenopausal subgroup.

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Adolescent diet and risk of breast cancer

Authors: A Lindsay Frazier, AL Frazier, BR Goldin, Catherine Tomeo Ryan, CJ Arts, CJ Arts, CJ Arts, CM Friedenreich, D Hunter, DJ Hunter, G Holland, GA Colditz, GA Colditz, Graham A Colditz, Helaine Rockett, HH Vorster, J Russo, J Russo, M Pryor, M Tokunaga, N Potischman, P Buell, RG Ziegler, RW Engelman, S Tretli, TG Hislop, US Department of Agriculture, Walter C Willett, WC Willett, WC Willett

Published: January 1, 2003

A nested case-control study within the Nurses' Health Study analyzed 843 breast cancer cases diagnosed between 1976 and 1986, matched 10:1 with approximately 8430 controls by age. Participants recalled their high school dietary habits via a 24-item questionnaire. Women reporting higher butter consumption during adolescence had an increased risk of breast cancer compared to those with lower intake. This adverse association contrasted with the protective effects observed for eggs, vegetable fat, and fiber. The authors cautioned that confirmation through prospective studies is needed.

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