The mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk

Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women, yet the role of beverage consumption in BC risk remains unclear. Additionally, the contribution of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers as mediators is unknown, limiting the development of effective prevention strategies. Method...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyi Lin, Boheng Liang, Tai Hing Lam, Kar Keung Cheng, Weisen Zhang, Lin Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Nutrition Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01110-y
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author Xiaoyi Lin
Boheng Liang
Tai Hing Lam
Kar Keung Cheng
Weisen Zhang
Lin Xu
author_facet Xiaoyi Lin
Boheng Liang
Tai Hing Lam
Kar Keung Cheng
Weisen Zhang
Lin Xu
author_sort Xiaoyi Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women, yet the role of beverage consumption in BC risk remains unclear. Additionally, the contribution of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers as mediators is unknown, limiting the development of effective prevention strategies. Methods This study included 13,567 participants from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS), where beverage consumption was assessed at baseline using a food frequency questionnaire. BC cases were identified through cancer registry linkage over a mean follow-up of 14.8 years. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed to evaluate the causal effects of beverage consumption on BC risk, with a two-step MR approach used to estimate mediation effects. Results During follow-up, 243 BC cases were identified. Weekly consumption of ≥ 1 portion of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB), versus < 1 portion, was significantly associated with a higher risk of BC (hazard ratio [HR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–2.23). This association was partly mediated by body mass index (proportion mediated [PM] 4.2%, 95% CI 0.9–17.1%) and uric acid (PM 18.8%, 95% CI 1.5–77.5%). Weekly consumption of > 6 portions of dairy-based milk was associated with a non-significantly higher BC risk (HR 1.41, 95% CI 0.99–2.03), while 3–6 portions of soy milk were associated with a lower BC risk (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10–0.98). No significant associations were found for pure fruit juice, coffee, tea, or alcoholic drinks. MR analyses supported the detrimental effect of SSB on BC risk, with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, polyunsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids (TFAs) ratio, and omega-6 fatty acids to TFAs ratio mediating 2.44%, 2.73%, and 3.53% of the association, respectively. Conclusion This study suggested that SSB consumption was a risk factor for BC and identified key anthropo-metabolic biomarkers mediating this relationship. Reducing SSB consumption and addressing associated metabolic pathways may offer effective strategies for BC prevention.
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spelling doaj-art-cbeeafb0458245e59701894dc98f843c2025-08-20T02:51:27ZengBMCNutrition Journal1475-28912025-03-0124111310.1186/s12937-025-01110-yThe mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer riskXiaoyi Lin0Boheng Liang1Tai Hing Lam2Kar Keung Cheng3Weisen Zhang4Lin Xu5School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou Center for Disease Control and PreventionSchool of Public Health, the University of Hong KongSchool of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of BirminghamGuangzhou Twelfth People’s HospitalSchool of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Background Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women, yet the role of beverage consumption in BC risk remains unclear. Additionally, the contribution of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers as mediators is unknown, limiting the development of effective prevention strategies. Methods This study included 13,567 participants from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS), where beverage consumption was assessed at baseline using a food frequency questionnaire. BC cases were identified through cancer registry linkage over a mean follow-up of 14.8 years. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed to evaluate the causal effects of beverage consumption on BC risk, with a two-step MR approach used to estimate mediation effects. Results During follow-up, 243 BC cases were identified. Weekly consumption of ≥ 1 portion of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB), versus < 1 portion, was significantly associated with a higher risk of BC (hazard ratio [HR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–2.23). This association was partly mediated by body mass index (proportion mediated [PM] 4.2%, 95% CI 0.9–17.1%) and uric acid (PM 18.8%, 95% CI 1.5–77.5%). Weekly consumption of > 6 portions of dairy-based milk was associated with a non-significantly higher BC risk (HR 1.41, 95% CI 0.99–2.03), while 3–6 portions of soy milk were associated with a lower BC risk (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10–0.98). No significant associations were found for pure fruit juice, coffee, tea, or alcoholic drinks. MR analyses supported the detrimental effect of SSB on BC risk, with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, polyunsaturated fatty acids to total fatty acids (TFAs) ratio, and omega-6 fatty acids to TFAs ratio mediating 2.44%, 2.73%, and 3.53% of the association, respectively. Conclusion This study suggested that SSB consumption was a risk factor for BC and identified key anthropo-metabolic biomarkers mediating this relationship. Reducing SSB consumption and addressing associated metabolic pathways may offer effective strategies for BC prevention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01110-yBeverage consumptionBreast cancer preventionAnthropo-metabolic biomarkersMediationSugar sweetened beverages
spellingShingle Xiaoyi Lin
Boheng Liang
Tai Hing Lam
Kar Keung Cheng
Weisen Zhang
Lin Xu
The mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk
Nutrition Journal
Beverage consumption
Breast cancer prevention
Anthropo-metabolic biomarkers
Mediation
Sugar sweetened beverages
title The mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk
title_full The mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk
title_fullStr The mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk
title_full_unstemmed The mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk
title_short The mediating roles of anthropo-metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk
title_sort mediating roles of anthropo metabolic biomarkers on the association between beverage consumption and breast cancer risk
topic Beverage consumption
Breast cancer prevention
Anthropo-metabolic biomarkers
Mediation
Sugar sweetened beverages
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01110-y
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