STUDY, VITAMIN D INSUFFICIENCY, BREAST CANCER

Study finds high incidence of Vitamin D- insufficiency in Women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Published article in the July 20008: issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, the National Cancer Institute, and other research centers report a high incidence of vitamin D insufficency among female breast Cancer survivors. Data obtained from 790 participants in the multi- ethnic Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) study of breast cancer patients, which sought to determine the effect of diet, hormones and other factors on breast CANCER PROGNOSIS AND SURVIVAL.
Blood samples collected within three years following the participants breast cancer diagnosis were analyzed for Serum 25 - hydroxy vitamin D levels, the primary biomaarked used to evaluate Vitamin D status. Dietary questionnaires were used to obtain information concerning Vitamin D intake levels from foodand supplements. Few women were found to have levels of Vitamin D of at least 32 nanograms per milliliter, that are sufficent for optimal health. Deficient levels of Vitamin D were detected in 75.6 percent of the participants, Women who had been diagnosed with localized or regional breast cancer had lower Vitamin D levels than those with in situ ( noninvasive) disease only a quarter of the women reported using supplements. Authors note evidence suggests an asssociation between Vitamin D status and survival in breast cancer

Vitamin D therapy could be useful, cost effective treatment for breast cancer patients. The authors of this study write " Clinicians may want to consider testing their breast cancer patients for serum 25- hydroxy vitamin D and to offer appropriate recommendations, if necessary , to improve Vitamin D status".

Peer review Journal cited from---- July 2008, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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