Study Finds Diet Rich in Tomatoes May Decrease the Risk of Breast Cancer

A study led by researchers at Rutgers University and Ohio State University finds that postmenopausal women who eat a diet rich in tomatoes have a lower risk of breast cancer. The authors state that women who had a diet rich in tomatoes and tomato-based products had higher levels of adiponectin, a hormone that has been associated with lower risk of breast cancer.

Adana Llanos, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Rutgers University School of Public Health and the lead author of the study, stated, “The advantages of eating plenty of tomatoes and tomato-based products, even for a short period, were evident in our findings.

Dr. Llanos holds a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in genetics from Howard University. She earned a master’s degree in public health from Ohio State University.

The article, “Effects of Tomato and Soy on Serum Adipokine Concentrations in Postmenopausal Women at Increased Breast Cancer Risk: A Cross-Over Dietary Intervention Trial,” was published on the website of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. It may be accessed here.