The Effects of vitamin D on breast cancer risk: A review

Vitamin D is mainly well known for its classical role in calcium homeostasis and bone health. Because its performance is induced by growth hormones-cellular function, it probably has some effects on genesis, development, and survival of cancers including breast cancer. Method: This paper was provided as a review by selecting related items which published between the years 2006-2014. Documents were collected from databases, PubMed and Google Scholar. Results: Many epidemiological evidences suggested an inverse association of high sunlight exposure, as well as dietary intakes and blood levels of vitamin D with breast cancer risk. Modulation of specific gene expression, in tissue specific manner, consequently inhibition of cellular proliferation, induction of cell differentiation and apoptosis could be accounted as related mechanisms. High dietary intakes of vitamin D were also found to be linked to lower breast density. Other proposed mechanisms included increased intracellular calcium concentration, inhibition of angiogenesis, suppression of proliferative activity of estrogen and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and down-regulation of their receptor levels. Discussion: Vitamin D may be related with reduced risk of breast cancer. Such association probably isstronger in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women caused by interactions among vitamin D, VDR, estrogen, and IGF-I.

Keywords:

Breast cancer , Vitamin D , Calcitriol