Legumes

Suggested

3 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Suggested3 studies

Regular legume consumption linked to significantly lower breast cancer risk

Three case-control studies with over 1,720 participants consistently demonstrate a protective association between legume intake and breast cancer risk. A Spanish study (1,017 cases, 1,017 controls) found that a Mediterranean dietary pattern rich in legumes reduced breast cancer risk by 44% (OR=0.56; 95% CI 0.40–0.79), with the strongest protection against triple-negative breast cancer (OR=0.32; 95% CI 0.15–0.66). An Iranian study (260 cases, 260 controls) identified significantly lower legume consumption among breast cancer patients compared to matched controls (p<0.05). A Brazilian study (89 cases, 94 controls) confirmed that higher bean consumption was strongly associated with reduced breast cancer risk when comparing highest to lowest intake tertiles. The protective effect appears consistent across different populations and tumour subtypes.

Evidence

The Relationship between Breast Cancer and Lifestyle based on Cockerham and Bourdieu Theory: a study on Kerman women

Authors: Amiri-Moghaddam, Marjan, Ghadimi, Bahram, PourRanjbar, Muhammad

Published: January 1, 2016

A case-control study comparing 260 breast cancer patients with 260 age- and residence-matched controls in Kerman identified a statistically significant difference in legume diet consumption between the two groups (p < 0.05, chi-square test). The breast cancer group showed a low-legume dietary pattern, while controls consumed more legumes, suggesting a protective association between legume intake and breast cancer risk.

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Spanish Mediterranean diet and other dietary patterns and breast cancer risk: case–control EpiGEICAM study

Authors: A Castelló, A de Juan-Ferré, A Goldhirsch, A Lluch, A M Casas, A Paul, A Ruiz, A Trichopoulou, AA Davis, AC Wolff, AH Wu, B Buijsse, B Pérez-Gómez, B Yang, C Jara, C Pelucchi, CA Demetriou, E Carrasco, E De Stefani, E Díaz, FB Hu, G Buckland, G Grosso, H Barkoukis, H Boeing, HD Woo, I Romieu, IR White, J Ferlay, J M Baena-Cañada, J Vioque, J Vioque, J Vioque, JS Zheng, KJ Lee, L Baglietto, LJ Martin, LM Butler, Lukas Schwingshackl, M A Jimeno, M de Lorgeril, M Martín, M Muñoz, M Pollán, M Ramos, MA Murtaugh, ME Hammond, N Garcia-Arenzana, N Garcia-Arenzana, P Rosado, P Royston, PF Jacques, RL Prentice, S Antolín, SF Brennan, T Agurs-Collins, TT Fung, V Cottet, V Edefonti, V Guillem, V Lope, WC Willett, X Cui

Published: January 1, 2014

A case-control study with 1017 breast cancer cases and 1017 matched controls found that the Mediterranean dietary pattern, which includes high legume intake alongside fruits, vegetables, oily fish, and vegetable oils, was associated with significantly lower breast cancer risk (OR=0.56; 95% CI 0.40–0.79 for top vs bottom quartile adherence). This protective association was observed across tumour subtypes including ER+/PR+/HER2−, HER2+, and triple-negative breast cancer, with the strongest effect seen in triple-negative tumours (OR=0.32; 95% CI 0.15–0.66).

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Dieta e câncer no Nordeste do Brasil: avaliação da relação entre alimentação e consumo de grupos de alimentos e câncer de mama

Authors: COSTA, Maria José de Carvalho, FISBERG, Regina Mara, LATORRE, Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira, LIMA, Flávia Emília Leite de

Published: April 1, 2008

Hospital-based case-control study conducted in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil from August 2002 to November 2003 with 89 histologically confirmed breast cancer cases and 94 age-matched controls (ages 30-80). Dietary intake was assessed and categorized into consumption tertiles, analyzed via unconditional multiple logistic regression. Bean (feijão) consumption showed a strong association with reduced breast cancer risk when comparing highest to lowest consumption tertiles.

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