Higher levels of Vitamin D among women may reduce their risk of developing breast cancer post menopause, claimed a new study.
The study found that women with blood levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (OH) — the main form of vitamin D in blood-above 60 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre) had one-fifth the risk of breast cancer compared to those with less than 20 ng/ml.
Lower risk of breast cancer is found among older women who have greater levels of vitamin D, according to a study led by UC San Diego Schooi of Medicine researchers.
While the study doesn’t prove cause and effect, it’s the latest among many that find those with higher levels of vitamin D have lower risks of various diseases.
Researchers used data from two randomized clinical trials with a total of 3,325 participants, and another study with 1,713 participants. All participants were women 55 and older. Their blood was examined between 2002 and 2017 for 25(OH)D. This was correlated with any diagnosis of breast cancer.
Participants were free of cancer at enrollment and were followed for a mean period of four years. Vitamin D levels in blood were measured during study visits.
