Vitamin D reduces the risk of Breast Cancer

Vitamin D, which is primarily obtained by the sunlight action on the skin, can be proved beneficial for women who are in the early stages of breast cancerdefine, suggested a recent study on Tuesday.

Blood samples were collected from 279 women with breast cancer, and levels of vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were calculated by researchers in Imperial College of London. It was found that the 25 women who were suffering from the advanced stage of breast cancer had lower level of vitamin D but on the other hand they had quite higher level of PTH in the body when compared with the 204 women who were in the early stage of cancer.

"Vitamin D levels are lower in women with advanced breast cancerdefine than in early breast cancer," said Dr Carlo Palmieri, of Imperial College London. "It lends support to the idea that vitamin D has a role in the progression of breast cancer," he said.

“We know from previous studies that breast cancer incidence is higher in women who live in higher latitudes and have less sun exposure," said Palmieri.

Vitamin D can be obtained by the action of the Ultra-violet B light on the skin and also from food like cod liver oil, fortified milk, dairy products, fatty fish etc. If an adult or children is exposed to sunlight daily, when sun is high in the sky than there is no need for them to acquire it from food sources.

During winters the bone loss is found in most women in post menopause stage as there is less intake of vitamin D, hence, it is recommended to take the required amount either through fortified food or supplements, in take of around 15 microgram per day is adequate in winters to prevent oneself from bone loss.

The low level of vitamin D in the body leads to cancer and auto immune diseases.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, breast cancer is the one of the most common form of cancer found in females all around the world and more than million cases are detected each year. If one is able to detect the cancer earlier and get the treatment on time than there are more chances of survival.

"The next thing in this research is to try and understand the potential causes and mechanisms underlying these differences and the precise consequences at a molecular level," said Palmieri, who reported the finding in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.

The researchers were confused whether the low level of the vitamin D level is considered to be the cause or the consequence of the disorder but it’s seen through other studies that low level of vitamin D leads to progression of breast cancer in the initial stages.

The study is published online by the Journal of Clinical Pathology.

Mammography, self examination (once a month) and doctor examination (at least once a year) can help in detecting the cancer earlier. Mammography is recommended for women above the age of 40 yrs, even if they don’t show any sign of cancer and younger females must get it done who have symptoms or high risk of breast cancer. The cancer could be treated through Lumpectomydefine, Total Mastectomy, Radiationdefine therapy and treatment with one or more drug (radiation and drug treatment are usually given after treatment.)

Factors leading to increase in risk of breast cancer in women are early onset of menstrual cycle, having a family history of breast cancer like mother, sister or close relatives, late menopause, inheritance of certain genesdefine, not having any children or having it after age of 30.