This is one of two linked papers in The BMJ that shed new light on the relation of alcohol and diet with the two commonest diseases in women in western countries: breast cancer and ischaemic heart disease.
According to editorial, the link between diet and breast cancer risk has been studied for over 40 years, with the only unequivocal findings of risk being increased by alcohol (risk increases by about 10% for each additional daily drink) and by obesity (risk in obese postmenopausal women is about 50% higher than in thin postmenopausal women). It notes that for fruit and vegetable intake in adult life, a recent pooled analysis of 20 cohort studies showed no association with total breast cancer risk. In addition, the effects of diet in early life have not been much studied. The editorial concludes that much more evidence is needed before conclusions can be drawn on the reported protective association between adolescent fruit intake and breast cancer risk, but it adds that these foods have well known beneficial effects on health, and efforts should continue to increase intake of both fruit and vegetables at all ages.