Fruit and vegetable intake and breast cancer prognosis: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

The effect of fruit and vegetable intake on breast cancer prognosis is controversial. Thus, a meta-analysis was carried out to explore their associations. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, OVID, ProQuest and Chinese databases from inception to April 2016. The summary hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI were estimated using a random effects model if substantial heterogeneity existed and using a fixed effects model if not. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were also performed. In total, twelve studies comprising 41 185 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Comparing the highest with the lowest, the summary HR for all-cause mortality were 1.01 (95% CI 0.72, 1.42) for fruits and vegetables combined, 0.96 (95% CI 0.83, 1.12) for total vegetable intake, 0.99 (95% CI 0.89, 1.11) for cruciferous vegetable intake and 0.88 (95% CI 0.74, 1.05) for fruit intake; those for breast cancer-specific mortality were 1.05 (95% CI 0.77, 1.43) for total vegetable intake and 0.94 (95% CI 0 u 69, 1 u 26) for fruit intake; and those for breast cancer recurrence were 0.89 (95% CI 0.53, 1.50) for total vegetable intake and 0.98 (95% CI 0.76, 1.26) for cruciferous vegetable intake. This meta-analysis found no significant associations between fruit and vegetable intake and breast cancer prognosis.