Effect of diet on micronutrient levels in breast nipple aspirate fluids Gang Chen, Jianwei Ren, Lance K. Heilbrun, Chandice Covington, Zora Djuric. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI; University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Both high fruit-vegetable and low-fat diets are of interest for cancer prevention. We conducted a dietary intervention study in premenopausal women who had a family history of breast cancer. The trial lasted 12 months and there were 4 diet arms: control, low-fat (15% of energy from fat), high fruit-vegetable (9 servings/day), and combination low-fat/high fruit-vegetable. Reported compliance to the diets was excellent. A total of 69 women provided breast nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) at baseline, 52 at 6 months and 53 at 12 months. Mean retinol, carotenoid and tocopherol levels in NAF were slightly increased at 12 months in the control group. In the low-fat arm, mean levels of 9 different carotenoids and retinol decreased by 20 to 60% after intervention. Levels of alpha, gamma and delta tocopherol each decreased by about 60%. In each of the two high fruit-vegetable arms, total carotenoid levels in nipple aspirate fluids increased about two-fold. The largest increases were in alpha and beta carotene, and the increases were somewhat smaller in the combination diet arm than in the high fruit/vegetable arm. Mean levels of tocopherols and retinol remained similar to that at baseline with both high fruit/vegetable diets. These data indicate that micronutrient levels in nipple aspirate fluid can be maintained or increased during a low-fat diet if fruit and vegetable intakes are concomitantly increased. This may have implications for breast cancer risk since this fluid bathes the epithelial cells lining the breast ducts. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.