Amna Younus^1,, Mariam Faiz², Abida Yasmeen¹

A large population of Pakistan is suffering from vitamin D deficiency. Decreased levels of vitamin D are associated with many critical diseases. In Pakistan, breast cancer incidence is on the rise especially among young women. Vitamin D anti-carcinogenic effects are known to protect from breast cancer. This study determined serum vitamin D level in newly diagnosed breast cancer and healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women and to evaluate its association with age groups, menopausal status, body mass index, grade, stage, size of tumor and serum calcium level. The study included 300 newly diagnosed breast cancer women visiting INMOL and 300 age-matched healthy women from different areas of Punjab province. Blood samples were collected and serum vitamin D and calcium levels were estimated. The mean±SD vitamin D levels in patients and control group were 11.4±6.1and 23.8±5.8ng/ml respectively (p<0.001). Pre and postmenopausal breast cancer women had mean vitamin D levels 10.6±4.2 and 12.6±7.5ng/ml respectively (p<0.001). No significant association of tumor grade and stage whereas a significant association (p<0.001) of tumor size with low vitamin D levels among breast cancer patients was found. A significant association was also found between low vitamin D and high calcium levels among pre and post menopausal breast cancer women (p<0.001) and high calcium levels with increased tumor size p<0.001. The study showed severe vitamin D deficiency in breast cancer women which must be appropriately managed because it may lead to tumor aggressiveness, poor prognosis of disease and other related complications.

breast cancer, menopausal status, tumor stage and size, vitamin d deficiency, calcium status