Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Aggressive Breast Cancer
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 19 Oct 2010 |
African-American women had lower vitamin D levels than white women, and vitamin D deficiency was associated with a greater likelihood for aggressive breast cancer.
Vitamin D status was determined in blood samples from 107 women who were all diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous five years. Sixty of these women were African-American, while the remaining 47 were white.
Circulating 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels were used as a marker and vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum concentration less than 20 ng/mL. The mean serum concentration of vitamin D was 29.8 ng/mL in white women and 19.3 ng/mL in African-American women. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 60% of African-American women compared with 15% of white women. Serum levels were lowest among patients with triple-negative breast cancer, and aggressive disease was eight times more likely among patients with vitamin D deficiency.
Susan Steck, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, (Columbia, SC, USA), said, "We know that darker skin pigmentation acts somewhat as a block to producing vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, which is the primary source of vitamin D in most people". The findings of this study provide a foundation for a possible prevention strategy, but further studies would be required. The results of the study were presented at the Third American Association of Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held in Miami, Florida, USA, September 30 – October 3, 2010.
Related Links:
University of South Carolina
Vitamin D status was determined in blood samples from 107 women who were all diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous five years. Sixty of these women were African-American, while the remaining 47 were white.
Circulating 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels were used as a marker and vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum concentration less than 20 ng/mL. The mean serum concentration of vitamin D was 29.8 ng/mL in white women and 19.3 ng/mL in African-American women. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 60% of African-American women compared with 15% of white women. Serum levels were lowest among patients with triple-negative breast cancer, and aggressive disease was eight times more likely among patients with vitamin D deficiency.
Susan Steck, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, (Columbia, SC, USA), said, "We know that darker skin pigmentation acts somewhat as a block to producing vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, which is the primary source of vitamin D in most people". The findings of this study provide a foundation for a possible prevention strategy, but further studies would be required. The results of the study were presented at the Third American Association of Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held in Miami, Florida, USA, September 30 – October 3, 2010.
Related Links:
University of South Carolina
Latest Clinical Chem. News
- POC Saliva Testing Device Predicts Heart Failure in 15 Minutes
- Screening Tool Detects Multiple Health Conditions from Single Blood Drop
- Integrated Chemistry and Immunoassay Analyzer with Extensive Assay Menu Offers Flexibility, Scalability and Data Commutability
- Rapid Drug Test to Improve Treatment for Patients Presenting to Hospital
- AI Model Detects Cancer at Lightning Speed through Sugar Analyses
- First-Ever Blood-Powered Chip Offers Real-Time Health Monitoring
- New ADLM Guidance Provides Expert Recommendations on Clinical Testing For Respiratory Viral Infections
- 3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models
- POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection
- Highly Reliable Cell-Based Assay Enables Accurate Diagnosis of Endocrine Diseases
- New Blood Testing Method Detects Potent Opioids in Under Three Minutes
- Wireless Hepatitis B Test Kit Completes Screening and Data Collection in One Step
- Pain-Free, Low-Cost, Sensitive, Radiation-Free Device Detects Breast Cancer in Urine
- Spit Test Detects Breast Cancer in Five Seconds
- Electrochemical Sensors with Next-Generation Coating Advances Precision Diagnostics at POC
- First-Of-Its-Kind Handheld Device Accurately Detects Fentanyl in Urine within Seconds