{"id":1969,"date":"2015-02-25T09:54:34","date_gmt":"2015-02-25T14:54:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/bwhs\/?page_id=1969"},"modified":"2026-04-08T10:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:52:00","slug":"2013-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/bwhs\/research\/publications\/2013-2\/","title":{"rendered":"2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rosenberg L, Boggs DA, Bethea TN, Adams-Campbell LL, Palmer JR. A prospective study of smoking and breast cancer risk among African American women.<\/strong> Cancer Causes Control 2013:24(12):2207-15. doi: 10.1007\/s10552-013-0298-6.<\/p>

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Active smoking and passive smoking (exposure to the smoke of others) have been assessed in relation to breast cancer in many studies, but rarely in Black women. There is uncertainty as to whether passive smoking is associated with increased risk. \u00a0In the BWHS, both active and passive smoking were associated with increased risk of breast cancer.\u00a0 Women who smoked most heavily and who began smoking at young ages were at highest risk.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Boggs DA, Rodr\u00edguez-Bernal CL, Rosenberg L, Palmer JR. Long-term diet quality is associated with lower obesity risk in young African American women with normal BMI at baseline.<\/strong> J Nutr 2013;143(10):1636-41. doi: 10.3945\/jn.113.179002.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

To determine whether diet quality affects weight gain, we assessed dietary patterns in relation to weight gain among BWHS participants who were ages 21-39 at the start of follow-up.\u00a0 These ages were studied because most weight gain in adults occurs before age 40. Two dietary patterns were assessed in 1995 and in 2001.\u00a0 Women who maintained high quality diets over time had a lower risk of becoming obese.\u00a0 The healthiest diets were low in red and processed meats and high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Wise LA, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L. Body size and time-to-pregnancy in Black women.<\/strong> Hum Reprod 2013;28(10):2856-64. doi: 10.1093\/humrep\/det333.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

With information from BWHS participants who reported a pregnancy attempt during 1995-2011, we found that heavier women were less likely to have been successful in becoming pregnant.\u00a0 These findings add to the growing body of research showing that excess weight is associated with reduced success in becoming pregnant.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Liu C, \u2026, Ruiz-Narv\u00e1ez EA, Rosenberg L, Palmer JR, et al. Genome-wide association of body fat distribution in African ancestry populations suggests new loci.<\/strong> PLoS Genet 2013;9(8):e1003681. doi: 10.1371\/journal.pgen.1003681.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that body fat at the waist has a worse effect on health than body fat at the hips. The BWHS contributed information to a genetic study of body fat distribution in populations of African ancestry.\u00a0 Some genetic variants associated with body fat at the waist were identified.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Boggs DA, Rosenberg L, Coogan PF, Makambi KH, Adams-Campbell LL, Palmer JR. Restaurant foods, sugar-sweetened soft drinks, and obesity risk among young African American women.<\/strong> Ethn Dis 2013;23(4):445-51.<\/p>

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People who eat food from restaurants tend to consume more calories than those who prepare their food at home, because restaurant meals, particularly from fast food restaurants, often contain more fats and more calories.\u00a0 Most weight gain among women in the BWHS occurs before age 45. \u00a0We found that young BWHS participants who ate meals often from restaurants, particularly meals of burgers, were at higher risk of becoming obese. This was also the case for women who frequently consumed sugar \u2013sweetened soft drinks.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Bethea TN, Rosenberg L, Charlot M, O'Connor GT, Adams-Campbell LL, Palmer JR. Obesity in relation to lung cancer incidence in African American women.<\/strong> Cancer Causes Control 2013;24(9):1695-703. doi:10.1007\/s10552-013-0245-6.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

Some evidence suggests that risk of lung cancer may be affected by body size. In the BWHS, risk of lung cancer was lower in women who were obese than in thinner women, especially among current smokers, in agreement with previous results.\u00a0 It is unclear why body size would have this effect. \u00a0However, it is clear the adverse effect of smoking on lung cancer risk is far greater than any effect of weight.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Rosenberg L, Kipping-Ruane KL, Boggs DA, Palmer JR. Physical activity and the incidence of obesity in young African-American women.<\/strong> Am J Prev Med 2013;45(3):262-8. doi: 10.1016\/j.amepre.2013.04.016.<\/p>

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BWHS participants who exercised vigorously were less likely to become obese than less active women.\u00a0\u00a0 Women who walked briskly also appeared to have a lower risk, although the results were less clear than for vigorous exercise. These effects on weight were independent of dietary factors and other factors related to weight gain.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Tukey MH, Berman JS, Boggs DA, White LF, Rosenberg L, Cozier YC. Mortality among African American women with sarcoidosis: data from the Black Women\u2019s Health Study.<\/strong> Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2013;30(2):128-33.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

Sarcoidosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects Black women. This study found that mortality among women in the BWHS with sarcoidosis was greater than that among women free of the illness.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Cozier YC, Ruiz-Narv\u00e1ez EA, McKinnon CJ, Berman JS, Rosenberg L, Palmer JR. Replication of genetic loci for sarcoidosis in U.S. Black women: data from the Black Women\u2019s Health Study.<\/strong> Hum Genet 2013;132(7):803-10. doi: 10.1007\/s00439-013-1292-5.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

This study examined possible genetic markers for sarcoidosis in the BWHS. The results support the conclusions of previous studies, which identified several specific genetic variants related to increased risk and others related to decreased risk. In addition, this study examined genetic markers of ancestry, and found that a higher percent African ancestry is related to an increased risk of sarcoidosis.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Wise LA, Palmer JR, Ruiz-Narv\u00e1ez EA, Reich DE, Rosenberg L. Is the observed association between dairy intake and fibroids in African Americans explained by genetic ancestry?<\/strong> Am J Epidemiol 2013; 178(7):1114-9. doi: 10.1093\/aje\/kwt091.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

African American women are more likely to develop uterine fibroids than other women and also more likely to be lactose intolerant and avoid dairy products.\u00a0 In the BWHS, participants with low intake of dairy products were more likely to develop fibroids than women with high intake.\u00a0 To see if this difference was explained by genetic factors (such as might be linked to lactose intolerance), we assessed whether % African ancestry explained the difference in fibroids risk in the BWHS between women with low and high intakes of dairy products. \u00a0This measure of ancestry did not explain the difference.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Li S, Rosenberg L, Wise LA, Boggs DA, LaValley M, Palmer JR. Age at natural menopause in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a follow-up study of U.S. Black women.<\/strong> Maturitas 2013;75(3):246-52. doi: 10.1016\/j.maturitas.2013.04.003.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

The relation of early age at menopause to mortality has not previously been assessed among African American women. In the BWHS, having a natural menopause before age 45 was associated with a small increase in the risk of death. link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Monda KL, ..., Palmer JR, Ruiz-Narvaez EA, et al. A meta-analysis identifies new loci associated with body mass index in individuals of African ancestry.<\/strong> Nat Genet 2013;45(6):690-6. doi: 10:1038\/ng.2608.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

In a large analysis that gathered data from many studies of people of African ancestry, genetic variants associated with body mass index were identified.\u00a0 Some variants were the same as those identified in white and Asian populations, indicating that there are shared genetic variants related to body size across populations of diverse ancestry.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Demerath EW, ..., Palmer JR, Ruiz-Narvaez EA, et al. Genome-wide association study of age at menarche in African-American women.<\/strong> Hum Mol Genet 2013:22(16):3329-46. doi: 10.1093\/hmg\/ddt181.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

African American women on average start having periods at an earlier age than women of European ancestry.\u00a0 The BWHS contributed information to a study of African American women, which included information from a large number of studies.\u00a0 Several genetic variants, including some associated with age at menarche in white women, were identified.\u00a0 It is hoped that studies of genetic variants will give clues as to why and how some women have an earlier age at start of periods. \u00a0link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Warner ET, Tamimi RM, Boggs DA, Rosner B, Rosenberg L, Colditz GA, Palmer, JR. Estrogen receoptor positive tumors: do reproductive factors explain differences in incidence between Black and white women?<\/strong> Cancer Causes Control 2013;24(4)731-9. doi: 10.1007\/s10552-013-0153-9.<\/p>

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A subtype of breast cancer, estrogen receptor- positive cancer (ER+), occurs less commonly\u00a0 among Black women than among white women.\u00a0 In an analysis of data on risk factors for ER+ breast cancer from the BWHS and from a similar follow-up study of white women, differences in reproductive factors only partly explained the difference in incidence between the two populations.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Boggs DA, Rosenberg L, Pencina MJ, Adams-Campbell LL, Palmer JR. Validation of a breast cancer risk prediction model developed for African American women.<\/strong> J Natl Cancer Inst 2013;105(5):361-7. doi: 10.1093\/jnci\/djt008.<\/p>

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Breast cancer risk prediction models are used to estimate a woman\u2019s individual risk, which in turn is used to judge whether the woman is at high enough risk to be enrolled in breast cancer prevention trials, how often she should have a mammogram, and whether she is a candidate for breast cancer chemoprevention.\u00a0 The CARE model, which was developed for Black women, was assessed in the BWHS. It underestimated breast cancer risk, and its predictive ability was modest, worse for estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer than for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.\u00a0 Further work will be focused on efforts to improve the model.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Wise LA, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L. Lifetime abuse victimization and risk of uterine leiomyomata in Black women.<\/strong> Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013;208(4):272.e1-13. doi: 10.1016\/j.ajog.2012.12.034.<\/p>

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In a study in the BWHS, both physical and sexual abuse during childhood were associated with a higher incidence of uterine fibroids, with a stronger association for sexual abuse.\u00a0 These results add to the evidence that stressors may contribute to increased incidence of uterine fibroids.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Genkinger JM, Makambi KH, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L, Adams-Campbell LL. Consumption of dairy and meat in relation to breast cancer risk in the Black Women's Health Study.<\/strong> Cancer Causes Control 2013;24(4):675-84. doi:10.1007\/s10552-013-0146-8.<\/p>

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Results on the association of meat and dairy intake with the incidence of breast cancer have been conflicting. In the BWHS, neither meat consumption nor dairy consumption was materially related to the incidence of breast cancer.\u00a0 Associations with specific subtypes of breast cancer, such as estrogen receptor positive and negative cancer, were also generally absent.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Felix AS, ..., Wise LA, Palmer JR, Rosenberg, et al. The etiology of uterine sarcomas: a pooled analysis of the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium.<\/strong> Br J Cancer 2013;108(3):727-34. doi: 10.1038\/bjc.2013.2.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

Uterine sarcomas are a rare subtype of endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus).\u00a0 To study this rare subtype requires the collaboration of multiple studies in order to have sufficient cases. The BWHS contributed data to such a collaboration, which found that risk factors for uterine sarcomas are no different from those for the most common subtype of this cancer.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Coogan PF, Wise LA, O\u2019Connor GT, Brown TA, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L. Abuse during childhood and adolescence and risk of adult-onset asthma in African American women.<\/strong> J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013;131(4):1058-63. doi: 10.1016\/j.jaci.2012.10.023.<\/p>

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Childhood abuse has been associated with a higher risk of asthma during childhood. An analysis of BWHS data found an association of asthma incidence during adulthood with both physical and sexual abuse during childhood, with a stronger association for physical abuse. A proposed mechanism involves the effect of stress on the immune system.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Palmer JR, Ruiz-Narv\u00e1ez EA, Rotimi CN, Cupples LA, Cozier YC, Adams-Campbell LL, Rosenberg L. Genetic susceptibility loci for subtypes of breast cancer in an African American population.<\/strong> Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2013;22(1):127-34. doi: 10.1158\/1055-9965.EPI-12-0769.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

Genetic variants identified in populations of European-ancestry women were assessed in the BWHS.\u00a0 Several genetic variants were associated with increased risk of breast cancer, including with the subtypes that are more aggressive and occur more commonly in African American women\u2014the estrogen receptor-negative and triple negative subtypes.\u00a0 These findings contribute to understanding of why certain breast cancer subtypes occur more commonly among Black women.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Ruiz-Narv\u00e1ez EA, Rosenberg L, Yao S, Rotimi CN, Cupples LA, Bandera EV, Ambrosone CB, Adams-Campbell LL, Palmer JR. Fine-mapping of the 6q25 locus identifies a novel SNP associated with breast cancer risk in African American women.<\/strong> Carcinogenesis 2013;34(2):287-91. doi: 10.1093\/carcin\/bgs334.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

A specific genetic variant has been associated with increased risk of breast cancer in Chinese women and women of European-ancestry, but not in women of African ancestry.\u00a0 Genotyping in the BWHS indicated that a different genetic variant in the same region as the one found in Chines and European women is associated with a reduced risk in the BWHS. The finding was confirmed in another study of Black women. \u00a0link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Ruiz-Narv\u00e1ez EA. Use of alternative promoters may hide genetic effects on phenotypic traits.<\/strong> J Hum Genet 2013; 58(1):47-50. doi: 10.1038\/jhg.2012.115.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

Many genetic variants have been identified as being associated with specific diseases, but they explain only a small part of the expected genetic variation and are poor predictors of disease occurrence.\u00a0 This paper proposes a mathematical model involving promoters that suggests new paths of research to understand genetic effects.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a><\/p>\n

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Chen F, ..., Palmer JR, Ruiz-Narv\u00e1ez EA, et al. A genome-wide association study of breast cancer in women of African ancestry.<\/strong> Hum Genet 2013;132:39-48. doi: 10.1007\/s00439-012-1214-y.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

Most genetic variants that have been linked to disease occurrence have very small effects, and very large studies are needed to identify them.\u00a0 Multiple studies, including the BWHS,\u00a0 contributed to the present study of genetic risk factors for breast cancer in women of African ancestry. Two previously unidentified genetic variants were found to be associated with breast cancer risk.\u00a0 link to online article<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

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Li S, Rosenberg L, Palmer JR, Phillips GS, Heffner LJ, Wise LA. Central adiposity and other anthropometric factors in relation to risk of macrosomia in an African American population.<\/strong> Obesity 2013:21(1):178-84. doi: 10.1038\/oby.2012.142.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

In previous studies, obesity measured by body mass index\u00a0 has been linked to an increased risk of macrosomia (birth weight of at least 4000 grams or of at least 8 pounds 13 ounces). Such babies have a higher risk of injury during the birth and a higher chance of childhood obesity.\u00a0 High waist circumference and high ratio of waist to hip circumference are measures of \u201ccentral\u201d obesity, in which body fat is more concentrated in the waist than in the hips.\u00a0 In the BWHS, these measures as well as obesity measured by body mass index were all associated with a higher risk of macrosomia.\u00a0 <\/em>link to online article<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Phillips GS, Wise LA, Rich-Edwards JW, Stampfer MJ, Rosenberg L. Neighborhood socioeconomic status in relation to preterm birth in a U.S. cohort of Black women.<\/strong> J Urban Health 2013;90(2):197-211. doi: 10.1007\/s11524-012-9739-x.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

Some previous studies that have measured neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) with a single variable have found associations of SES with higher rates of preterm birth. Neighborhood SES\u00a0 may be better captured with a variable based on multiple factors.\u00a0 Using such a variable in the BWHS, we found little evidence of an association of neighborhood SES with risk of premature birth. link to online article<\/a>
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