A study looking at the reduced risk of breast cancer in women with coeliac disease

The research team found that women with coeliac disease had some factors that increased their risk of breast cancer and some factors that decreased their risk of breast cancer.

The study team asked 10,193 women with coeliac disease to complete a questionnaire and they got 7,416 responses. The questionnaire asked about a number of lifestyle and reproductive factors. They compared their answers to those from women without coeliac disease.

They found that women with coeliac disease are more likely to

• Have had a baby, and had their first baby before turning 30
• Have breastfed their babies
• Be younger when they go through the menopause

These factors all reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

However, they also found that women with coeliac disease are more likely to

• Be white
• Have started their periods before they were 11
• Have irregular periods
• Be in a higher social class

These factors all increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

The women with coeliac disease had a similar average height and weight to that of the general population.

The research team concluded that women with coeliac disease had some factors that increase and some factors that decrease the risk of breast cancer developing. They suggest that the reduced risk of breast cancer is related to menstrual and reproductive factors.

We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the study. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed ) but may not have been published in a medical journal.  The figures we quote above were provided by the study team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.