Women suffering from breast cancer with high levels of vitamin D in their blood have better survival rates, a latest study shows.
Previous studies analysed the role of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a metabolite produced by the body from the ingestion of vitamin D. The researchers obtained the data of 4,443 patients at the time of their diagnosis. These patients were tracked for an average of nine years.
The researchers stated that women in the high serum group were found to have 30 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in their blood. The low group had 17 ng/ml. In America, the average level in patients with breast cancer is 17 ng/ml.
"Vitamin D metabolites increase communication between cells by switching on a protein that blocks aggressive cell division," said Cedric F. Garland, DrPH, professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, in a press release.
"As long as vitamin D receptors are present tumour growth is prevented and kept from expanding its blood supply. Vitamin D receptors are not lost until a tumour is very advanced. This is the reason for better survival in patients whose vitamin D blood levels are high," he added.
"The study has implications for including vitamin D as an adjuvant to conventional breast cancer therapy," said co-author Heather Hofflich, UC San Diego associate professor in the Department of Medicine.
The researchers’ past studies have shown that low vitamin D levels increase the chances of premenopausal breast cancer.
Garland advised randomised controlled clinical trials to authenticate the study results. However, he also suggested that physicians should consider adding vitamin D into a breast cancer patient's standard care now and observe the patient closely.
The study was done by the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers and is published in the March issue of Anticancer Research.
