Dietary fiber

Suggested

4 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Suggested4 studies

Higher dietary fiber intake linked to reduced breast cancer risk and recurrence

Four studies spanning an umbrella review, systematic review, nested case-control study, and randomized controlled trial collectively support dietary fiber's protective role against breast cancer. The umbrella review, pooling 185 prospective studies with nearly 135 million person-years of follow-up, found 15-30% risk reduction for non-communicable diseases including breast cancer at intakes of 25-29g/day, with moderate GRADE certainty. A nested case-control study within the Nurses' Health Study (843 cases, ~8430 controls) identified lower breast cancer risk with higher adolescent fiber intake. Mechanistically, a systematic review of 72 studies found that butyrate—a short-chain fatty acid produced from fiber fermentation—demonstrates anticancer activity against breast cancer through multiple molecular pathways. An RCT of 100 breast cancer survivors incorporates increased fiber intake as part of a lifestyle intervention targeting disease recurrence biomarkers. Aiming for at least 25g of fiber daily from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables aligns with the strongest available evidence.

Evidence

Gut metabolites and breast cancer : the continuum of dysbiosis, breast cancer risk, and potential breast cancer therapy

Authors: Bhuyan, Deep Jyoti (R19430), Chang, Dennis Hsu-Tung (R7407), Jaye, Kayla (S37204), Li, Chun Guang (R17249)

Published: January 1, 2022

A systematic review screening 2701 articles across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science identified 72 relevant studies meeting predetermined inclusion criteria. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber, demonstrated anticancer potential against multiple cancer types including breast cancer through various molecular pathways. The review found that gut microbial metabolites influence both cancer risk and the efficacy of standard chemotherapeutics. However, the molecular mechanisms of action specifically against breast cancer are not yet fully established, and the authors note that dose-response relationships require further investigation through clinical studies to validate in vitro findings.

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Carbohydrate quality and human health:a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Authors: Cummings, John, Mann, Jim, Mete, Evelyn, Reynolds, Andrew, Te Morenga, Lisa, Winter, Nicola

Published: February 2, 2019

Dose-response curves from pooled analysis of 185 prospective studies with nearly 135 million person-years suggested that higher intakes of dietary fibre could confer protection against breast cancer. This finding emerged alongside the primary observation of 15-30% risk reduction for several non-communicable diseases at 25-29g/day. The overall evidence certainty for dietary fibre was graded as moderate using the GRADE approach. Random-effects model estimates were confirmed through sensitivity analyses, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses across the full range of non-communicable disease outcomes examined.

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Study protocol to investigate the effect of a lifestyle intervention on body weight, psychological health status and risk factors associated with disease recurrence in women recovering from breast cancer treatment

Authors: A Campbell, A McTiernan, A McTiernan, A Silvestri, A Visser, AB Kornblith, AC Utter, AH Wu, AJ Daley, Amanda Daley, AN Dentino, AS Fairey, AT Beck, B Dugue, B Rockhill, B Zumoff, BL Andersen, BL Gruber, BL Stauffer, BM Pinto, BS McEwen, C Peters, C Peters, C Wiltschke, CB Ebbeling, CL Caldwell, CM Bryla, CM Friedenreich, D Geffken, D Nerozzi, DC McMillan, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DC Nieman, DF Cella, DG Cruess, DH Bovbjerg, DM Golden-Kreutz, DV Schapira, DW Kissane, E Maunsell, EA Bermudez, G Borg, G van der Pompe, G van der Pompe, GG Kolden, H Davis, H Kervinen, HC Abercrombie, Helen Crank, Hilary Powers, HV Thomas, J Gallagher, J Kaukua, J Verloop, JA Cauley, JE Bower, JE Epping-Jordan, JF Sallis, JK Camoriano, JK Smith, JO Prochaska, John M Saxton, JR Calabrese, JS Goodwin, KL Jen, KM Rexrode, KS Courneya, KS Madden, L Bernstein, L Chang, M Maes, M Maes, M Maes, M Mezzetti, MD Gammon, MD Holmes, MD Holmes, ME Nelson, MK Baldwin, N Banu, Nanette Mutrie, Nicola Woodroofe, PJ Goodwin, RJ Benschop, Robert Coleman, RT Chlebowski, S Cohen, S Levy, S Yamasaki, SE Hankinson, SE Sephton, SI Mannering, SJ Schleifer, SJH Biddle, SK Lutgendorf, SM Levy, T Moradi, T Treasure, TA Wadden, TP Erlinger, U Ehlert, Vanessa Siddall, Y Touitou, Y Touitou, Z Djuric, Z Kronfol

Published: January 1, 2006

A randomized controlled trial of 100 breast cancer survivors implements a 24-week lifestyle intervention that includes increasing dietary fiber intake and reducing refined carbohydrates. This recommendation is part of a comprehensive dietary strategy that also targets fat reduction to ~25% of calories, at least 5 daily portions of fruits and vegetables, and moderate alcohol intake. Outcome measures include body weight, body composition, psychological health, cardiorespiratory fitness, and biomarkers associated with disease recurrence including inflammatory markers and immune function.

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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 embedded in the Nurses' Health Study examined 843 breast cancer cases matched with approximately 8430 controls at a 10:1 ratio based on age. Using a 24-item high school diet questionnaire, higher adolescent fiber intake was associated with lower breast cancer risk among women diagnosed between 1976 and 1986. The protective association was identified alongside other dietary factors including eggs and vegetable fat. The authors acknowledged these results require prospective confirmation.

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