A case-control study of caffeine and methylxanthines in benign breast disease

Abstract

A dietary case-control study of 854 histologically diagnosed cases of benign breast disease (BBD), 755 matched surgical controls and 723 matched neighborhood controls was conducted in Israel between 1977 and 1980. No association between coffee consumption and BBD was found. Analyses by histological type, degree of ductal atypia, age, sex and ethnic origin, controlling for several confounding factors, confirmed the lack of associton. The estimated mean intake of methylxanthines was also similar for cases and controls (302, 312 and 313 mg for cases, surgical controls and neighborhood controls, respectively). No evidence of a dose-response was noted. There was no association between coffee or methylxanthine consumption and BBD, although there was a 70% chance of finding a risk ratio of 1.5 with an error of 5%.