In Table 1 the study's sample characteristics of patients and controls
are presented. Cases and controls were of similar age (as this was the
protocol of the study), while educational and financial status was
lower in cases as compared with the controls (p b 0.001). Cases reported
lower physical activity status (i.e., lower IPAQ score), were more
likely to be overweight and have at least one relative with breast
cancer. However, there was no significant difference in smoking habits
(p= 0.207), aswell as inmenopausal status (p= 0.49). The level of adherence
to the Mediterranean diet was moderate in both cases (i.e., 28/
55) and controls (i.e., 30/55).
As regards to the main research hypothesis, based on unadjusted
analyses that may hide confounding, no significant association was
observed between the frequency of consumption of red, white and
processed meat and presence of breast cancer (p N 0.05), while only
grilled meat intake was associated with the disease. In particular,
cases were more likely to consume more frequently grilled meat as
compared with controls (p = 0.007); but dose–response relationships
were not identified (Table 2).