Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that plays a role in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. Recently, extensive research on its extraskeletal actions has linked vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of infection, diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2, cardiovascular disease, obesity, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, colon, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer and some neurological diseases. There are various mechanisms by which vitamin D influences the natural history of cancer. These include the role of vitamin D in the induction of apoptosis, stimulation of cell differentiation, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects and inhibition of angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. The aim of this review is to clarify the true role of vitamin D in the onset of breast cancer and evolution of the disease after treatment. A further aim is to suggest new research directions to identify indications and requirements for vitamin D supplementation in patients with breast cancer.

Milk and dairy (M&D) is a longstanding human food with widespread use. Many studies showed the preventive capacity of M&D in several human health disorders, but its utility in others is under discussion. Aging has been associated to elderly cognitive decline including dementia-Alzheimer syndrome (Dem-AD). The absence of a therapy to impede or postpone Dem-AD determines the need for its prevention, including nutritional factors. To evaluate the preventive capacity of M&D consumption in elderly Dem-AD we performed a systematic review in the main biomedical databases and information resources, but we present this study as a narrative review to discuss better the complexity of this subject. The elderly Dem-AD has a long pre-symptomatic period and the M&D intake has a widespread use. These determinants and the quality flaws of published studies impeach us to answer whether M&D consumption is preventive for Dem-AD. Moreover, two long Japanese cohorts suggest that M&D intake could prevent Dem-AD. Prospective cohorts beginning in midlife (or early life) could answer this question in the future.

Plant sterols are recommended to decrease low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Possible differences between sexes in efficacy were analyzed. In a double-blind crossover clinical trial, 30 women and 24 men were divided into 2 phases of 3 weeks, separated by a 2-week washout period. Subjects ingested 2.23 g/day of sterols in 700-mL milk. Total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride, and non-HDL-C were assessed. There was significant interaction of sex factors×time intervention in TC (F(1.49) = 4.54, η2 = 0.085), LDL-C (F(1.46) = 4.72, η2 = 0.093), HDL-C (F(1.48) = 9.37, η2 = 0.163), and non-HDL-C (F(1.48) = 9.97, η2 = 0.172). Total body fat in the control group and cholesterol reduction were significantly correlated with LDL-C (r = 0.463) and non-HDL-C (r = 0.482) reduction percentage (P < .05). Differences in sex effect were observed.