The Association Between 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Mammographic Density in Healthy Pre- and Postmenopausal Women Regardless of the Menstrual Cycle Phase: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is a known risk factor of breast cancer. An association between vitamin D and breast density has been suggested; however, it remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level and mammographic density. Subjects in our study included 517 patients who visited the health promotion center of the University Hospital. Mammographic density was classified using the American College of Radiology, Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. Analysis of variance was performed to clarify the association of serum 25(OH)D level and mammographic density, and odds ratio was calculated by ordinal logistic regression analysis. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 14.3 ± 7.0 ng/mL in all subjects. In correlation analysis, weak negative correlation was observed between serum 25(OH)D level and mammographic density groups (r = -0.09, P = 0.049). However, ordinal logistic regression analysis showed no statistically significant association between serum 25(OH)D level and mammographic density (odds ratio: 0.75, 95% confidence interval: 0.50-1.13). Results of our study showed that there is no significant association between serum 25(OH)D level and mammographic density. It is thought to be an another mechanism of serum 25(OH)D level on breast cancer risk in addition to breast density.

Serum 25–Hydroxyvitamin D3 and Mammography Density among Mexican Women

“…Our finding of non-significant association overall between serum 25(OH)D3 levels and MD among premenopausal women is consistent with results from several studies [21–23, 25]. More recently the study by Crew et al on 195 women aged 40–60 years found no association between serum 25(OH)D and different measures of MD, however [22].…”

“…More recently the study by Crew et al on 195 women aged 40–60 years found no association between serum 25(OH)D and different measures of MD, however [22]. In a recent Korean study, the authors reported a small but statistically significant association between serum 25(OH)D and MD in correlation analyses, but no significant association was observed in the multivariable regression analyses [23]. A cross-sectional study by Chai et al, showed that serum 25(OH)D was not associated with MD among 182 premenopausal women [21].…”

“…Although some of them consistently reported significant inverse associations between vitamin D and MD [18–20, 24], the evidence of associations continue to be inconsistent [21–23, 25] and to this date, no study has investigated this association among Mexican women.…”

Premenopausal plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, mammographic density, and risk of breast cancer

“…Of eight previous investigations of 25(OH)D and mammographic density (20–27), five of which included premenopausal women (20, 21, 24, 25, 27), none reported evidence of a statistically significant association overall. However, two prior studies reported inverse associations between seasonal changes in plasma 25(OH)D and mammographic density (21, 27).…”

“…Because vitamin D has anti-proliferative and pro-differentiation effects in normal breast tissue (19) and therefore could have direct or indirect influences on breast tissue composition, we hypothesized that women with higher plasma 25(OH)D would have lower percent mammographic density. Prior investigations of this hypothesis have mostly reported null findings (20–28); however, these studies have been limited by fairly small sample sizes and few have included premenopausal women (20, 21, 24, 25). Understanding how vitamin D may influence mammographic density among premenopausal women may enhance our understanding of breast cancer etiology.…”