Data from Columbia University provide new insights into breast cancer
2009 JUL 9 - (NewsRx.com) -- " Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased breast cancer risk and decreased breast cancer survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, as measured by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), in premenopausal women at initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and after 1 year of vitamin D supplementation," scientists in the United States report. "Patients and Methods The study included 103 premenopausal women from the northeastern United States with stages I to III breast cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy and participated in a 1-year zoledronate intervention trial. All patients were prescribed vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol) 400 IU and calcium carbonate 1,000 mg daily. At baseline and at 6 and 12 months, bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were obtained and blood was collected and analyzed in batches for serum 25-OHD. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-OHD less than 20 ng/mL, insufficiency as 20 to 29 ng/mL, and sufficiency as 30 ng/mL or greater. At baseline, 74% of women were vitamin D deficient (median, 17 ng/mL). Vitamin D deficiency was slightly less common in white women (66%) compared with black (80%) and Hispanic (84%) women. After vitamin D supplementation for 1 year, less than 15% of white and Hispanic women, and no black women, achieved sufficient 25-OHD levels. Vitamin D levels did not correlate with baseline BMD and were not altered by chemotherapy or bisphosphonate use. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in women with breast cancer. The current recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D is too low to increase serum 25-OHD greater than 30 ng/mL," wrote K.D. Crew and colleagues, Columbia University. The researchers concluded: "Optimal dosing for bone health and, possibly, improved survival has yet to be determined.." Crew and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Despite Supplementation in Premenopausal Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2009;27(13):2151-2156). For more information, contact D.L. Hershman, Columbia University, Dept. of Medical, Division Oncology, College Physics & Surgery, 161 Ft Washington Avenue, 10-1068, New York City, NY 10032, USA. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Clinical Oncology is: American Society Clinical Oncology, 2318 Mill Road, Ste. 800, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. Keywords: United States, New York, Antihypocalcemic, Antiresorptive, Bisphosphonate, Bone, Breast Cancer, Breast Carcinoma, Chemotherapy, Clinical Oncology, Drug Therapy, Oncology, Vitamin D Deficiency, Women's Health, Zoledronate, Columbia University. This article was prepared by Women's Health Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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