26 Apr Vitamin D May Protect Against Breast Cancer, Including in Minority Women with Low Vitamin D Levels

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. O’Brien

Katie M. O’Brien PhD
Chronic Disease Epidemiology Group
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

MedicalResearch.com:  What is the background for this study?  What are the main findings?

Response: Vitamin D may protect against breast cancer. Although women of color have lower average vitamin D levels than non-Hispanic White women, few studies have considered the role of race/ethnicity.

In a sample of self-identified Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina women, we observed that vitamin D concentrations measured in blood were inversely associated with breast cancer, particularly among Latinas.

These findings indicate that vitamin D may protect against breast cancer, including among racial/ethnic groups with low average circulating levels.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: These results provide further evidence that vitamin D may protect against breast cancer, including among racial/ethnic groups with higher prevalence’s of vitamin D deficiency.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: We would love to see additional research groups replicate our findings for Black / African American women and Hispanic / Latina women, as neither group has been well studied. We are interested in understanding the influence of genetic and epigenetic factors on the relationship between vitamin D and breast cancer.

Disclosures: This work was supported by the intramural program at the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and an Office of Dietary Supplement Research Scholars Program Grant.

Citation:

Vitamin D concentrations and breast cancer incidence among Black/African American and non-Black Hispanic/Latina women
Katie M. O’Brien PhD, Quaker E. Harmon MD, PhD, Chandra L. Jackson PhD, Mary V. Diaz-Santana PhD, Jack A. Taylor MD, PhD, Clarice R. Weinberg PhD, Dale P. Sandler PhD

Cancer First published: 25 April 2022
DOI10.1002/cncr.34198

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Last Updated on April 26, 2022 by Marie Benz MD FAAD