Prospective Study of Diet and Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are 2-3 times more common in Black women than White women. Established risk factors for fibroids do not fully explain this discrepancy in rates. Diet can affect endogenous levels of estrogen and progesterone, hormones that have been implicated in the etiology of uterine fibroids. Moreover, dietary patterns differ significantly between Black and White women. However, few studies have examined dietary risk factors for fibroids. We have planned analyses of Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS) data to identify whether dietary intakes of dairy, red meat, processed meats, fruits and vegetables, and fiber, and both macro and micronutrients contained in these foods, influence risk of fibroids.