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01-06-2010 | Epidemiology

Meta-analysis of vitamin D, calcium and the prevention of breast cancer

Authors: Peizhan Chen, Pingting Hu, Dong Xie, Ying Qin, Fudi Wang, Hui Wang

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 2/2010

Abstract

Vitamin D and calcium intake have been suggested to have protective effects against breast cancer; however, the data have been inconclusive. The present meta-analysis examined the overall effects of vitamin D intake, circulating 25(OH)D and 1α,25(OH)₂D levels, and calcium intake on breast cancer risk. Data from 11 studies on vitamin D intake, 7 studies on circulating 25(OH)D levels, 3 studies of circulating 1α,25(OH)₂D levels, and 15 studies on calcium intake and breast cancer risk were included in this analysis. From the meta-analysis, there was a significant inverse relationship between vitamin D intake and breast cancer risk, with an overall relative risk (RR) of high versus low vitamin D intake for breast cancer of 0.91 (95% CI = 0.85–0.97). The highest quantile of circulating 25(OH)D was found to be associated with a 45% (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.38–0.80) decrease in breast cancer when compared with the lowest quantile. No significant association for the circulating 1α,25(OH)₂D level and breast cancer was found (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.68–1.44). For calcium, a 19% (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72–0.90) decrease in breast cancer risk was found for those with highest quantile of calcium intake compared to the lowest quantile. These results provide strong evidence that vitamin D and calcium have a chemopreventive effect against breast cancer.

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Title: Meta-analysis of vitamin D, calcium and the prevention of breast cancer
Authors: Peizhan Chen
Pingting Hu
Dong Xie
Ying Qin
Fudi Wang
Hui Wang
Publication date: 01-06-2010
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-009-0593-9

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