Serum Vitamin D Levels in Females with Breast Cancer and Normal Healthy Controls: A Case Control Study

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is not just a vitamin, it functions as a hormone in the body and it has a wide range of essential functions ranging from calcium homeostasis, immune regulations, cell differentiation to anticancer properties. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in females throughout the world as well as in India. The present study was undertaken with an objective to estimate and compare serum vitamin D levels in females having breast cancer with normal healthy females. METHOD: The present hospital based, case control study evaluated a total of 100 females, forty years or above from the OPD and wards of the Department of Surgery, MM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala. Hundred (100) subjects included in the study were grouped as Group 1 (cases) enrolling 50 breast cancer patients aged 40 years and above and Group 2 as controls with 50 age matched healthy females. Further, a detailed history was elicited from the patients and general physical examination along with local examination and systemic examination was performed for all. Breast cancer patients already on Vitamin D or Calcium supplements and those with renal disease were excluded from the study. Serum vitamin D [25 (OH) D] was assayed by direct competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) for all subjects enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Serum levels of Vitamin D in breast cancer patients ranged from 11.9 ????7.8 ng/ml while in healthy controls it ranged from 23.0????8.84 ng/ml and on comparison the levels in cases were found to be significantly lower with p<0.001. CONCLUSION: Considering the extra-osseous actions of vitamin D, it has a potential role in the regulation of immune functions and has anticancer properties. Significantly lower levels of serum Vitamin D levels in breast cancer patients as compared to age matched controls supports the fact that Vitamin D has beneficial role in the breast cancer patients so, vitamin D levels must be augmented in the patients of breas