Association of Serum Vitamin D with Risk of Breast Carcinoma: An Observational Case-control Study from Western Maharashtra, India
XC10-XC14
Correspondence
Dr. Samir Gupta,
Surgical Specialist, Department of Oncosurgery, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pune-411018, Maharashtra, India.
E-mail: samir.gupta@dpu.edu.in
Introduction: Breast carcinoma is one of the most prevalent types of carcinoma and the leading cause of death among all carcinomas. Recently, vitamin D deficiency has been reported as a risk factor for breast carcinoma. Vitamin D, as an anticarcinoma agent, prevents cellular differentiation, stimulates cell death, reduces angiogenesis, tumour progression, and metastasis.
Aim: To investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of breast carcinoma.
Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India, between November 2018 and October 2020. A total of 57 cases diagnosed with breast carcinoma and 57 healthy controls were analysed. Physical and reproductive health parameters were compared, along with vitamin D status using student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression was used to assess the risk of breast carcinoma.
Results: Out of 114 women, 57 were cases and 57 were controls with a mean age of 52 vs 48 years. The mean value of serum vitamin D levels was significantly lower (19.45 vs 27.91 ng/mL, p<0.001) than controls. The percentage of serum Vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in cases (28 (49.1%) vs 12 (21.1%), p<0.001) compared to controls. Vitamin D concentration <20 ng/mL was significantly associated with a higher risk of breast carcinoma (OR 10.8, 95% CI 3.1-37.6). Multiparity ≥3 was associated with a decreased risk of breast carcinoma (OR 2.250, 95% CI 0.599-8.447) compared to parity ≤2 (OR 3.241, 95% CI 0.916-11.466). In luminal A and triple-negative subtypes, severe vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was observed (p=0.045) compared to other subtypes.
Conclusion: The present study findings showed that women diagnosed with breast carcinoma had low vitamin D levels, which were linked to an increased risk and prognosis of breast carcinoma. Furthermore, multiparity lowers the risk of breast carcinoma.