British Journal of Cancer · Jul 28, 2026

Low-fat dietary pattern and dietary advanced glycation end-products intake: a secondary analysis of the Women's Health Initiative randomized trial

By Pichardo MS, Hunt RP, Peterson LL et al.

BACKGROUND: In the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Dietary Modification (DM) randomized trial, a low-fat dietary pattern intervention reduced breast cancer mortality (P = 0.02). Higher dietary advanced glycation end-products (dAGE) may be associated with higher breast cancer incidence. In this report, we examined whether the WHI dietary intervention influenced dAGE consumption. METHODS: Of 48,835 postmenopausal women randomized (40:60) to dietary intervention versus usual diet comparison, 40,209 had food frequency questionnaires at baseline, and serially through 5-7 years, which were used to estimate dAGE scores (kilo Unit/1000 kilocalories [kU/1000 kcal]) using a commonly referenced database. Multivariate regressions with repeated dAGE measures were examined by randomization group. RESULTS: Baseline mean dAGE scores were similar for intervention (7542 kU/1000 kcal, standard deviation (SD) = 912) and comparison (7514 kU/1000 kcal, SD = 917) groups. Through 5-7 years, dAGE scores were persistently lower in intervention versus comparison groups (mean range 5361-6236 kU/1000 kcal versus 7159-7669 kU/1000 kcal (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The WHI low-fat dietary pattern intervention substantially reduced dAGE consumption. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00000611; Date: 10/28/1999.

doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03514-x Open access PubMed 42521771 Interventions