Low Levels of Vitamin D in a Cohort of Women with Impalpable Breast Lesions from Rio de Janeiro/Brazil

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Circulating Biomarkers Laboratory, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

2 Medical Sciences Graduation Program (PGCM), Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

3 Americas Medical City, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

4 Radiology Service, Gaffrée e Guinle University Hospital, Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.

5 Kennedy Faculty, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: Low levels of vitamin D have been described as a risk factor for the development of breast cancer.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of vitamin D (25OHD) in patients with impalpable breast lesions
comparing with a control group. Methods: Vitamin D quantification (25OHD) was assessed in the plasma of 65 patients
with impalpable breast lesions and from 20 health controls using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay.
Pearson’s chi-square test and nonparametric t-Student were used to evaluate statistical significance between the clinical
variables and the means of quantification of vitamin D. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to
evaluate the correlation between age and vitamin sufficiency for the cases and the controls. Results: The prevalence of
vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency in women with malignant lesions was 84% and 60% for the control group.
Using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, the relationship between vitamin D levels and age presented significant
association only for the control group (P=0.002). Using ROC curve, the plot area (0.778) for the control group defined
a cut-off value of 45 years to age, with specificity and sensitivity of 60% and 50%, respectively. Thus, the odds ratio
for vitamin D insufficiency in women over 45 years was 1.37 (P=0.011). For the case group, clinical characteristics,
histological grade, and lymph node involvement did not show any significant association. Conclusion: The prevalence of
vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is high in women with impalpable breast lesions, as well as in the control group,
even in a tropical city. According to the results the age advancement may be involved with the decrease in vitamin D
levels in plasma, but there was no statistical association between low levels of Vitamin D and breast cancer.

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References

 
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 19, Issue 11
November 2018
Pages 3087-3092

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 November 2017
  • Revise Date: 08 September 2018
  • Accept Date: 07 October 2018

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