Clinical and biochemical studies on methylxanthine-related fibrocystic breast disease.

The results of this study show that the consumption of methylxanthines through dietary sources appears to be associated with the etiologic development of benign fibrocystic disease in the American woman. Complete abstention from methylxanthine consumption resulted in complete resolution of the disease in 82.5% and significant improvement in 15% of those studied. Thus 97.5% showed clinical benefit from total methylxanthine abstention. The results of a clinical questionnaire answered by 500 women consuming methylxanthines, one half of whom had fibrocystic breast disease, suggest that women with fibrocystic disease may have a genetic predisposition for both benign breast disease and cancer. Biochemical studies implicate increased sensitivity of the adenylate cyclase system to catecholamines in patients with fibrocystic disease. Methylxanthines are known to increase circulating catecholamines.