Recently, a team from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) presented a study at the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons which suggested that breast cancer patients with low levels of vitamin D can suffer with worse tumor and its outcomes.

Relating vitamin D to the breast health, Dr. Laurie Kirstein, a breast surgeon at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City said, “Many oncologists are already following vitamin D levels in their breast cancer patients, and recommending supplements for low levels. To link vitamin D levels to the aggressiveness of a particular type of breast cancer is an interesting finding; one that should be validated with a controlled trial”.

To reach to these conclusions, the researchers included 155 women who had surgery for breast cancer and examined their blood tests to find out the levels of vitamin D.

After considering factors like age, race, cancer stage at diagnosis, menopause status, gene expression and estrogen and progesterone status, the researchers found a strong association between low vitamin D levels and appalling conditions of breast cancer patients.

Finding the results of the study surprising, lead researcher Luke J. Peppone, Assistant Professor of radiation oncology said that doctors should consider monitoring vitamin D levels among breast cancer patients to take preventive measures.