Vitamin D about Breast Cancer - Research Paper Example

? Vitamin D in Relation to Breast Cancer By of Learning: Vitamin D in Relation to Breast Cancer Introduction Several researches have been carried out in an effort to prove that the deficiency of vitamin D leads to increased breast cancer incidents. The studies have gone further to indicate that low levels of vitamin D is one of the leading causes of mortality rates and recurrence of breast cancer. Further more, patients suffering from breast cancer have been observed to have higher risks for several medical complications linked to the deficiency of vitamin D. The medical complications include; falls, fractures, bone loss, and infection. One of the main concerns by patients with breast cancer is the Cancer-Treatment-Induced Bone Loss (CTIBL) which affects more than 80% of patients with breast cancer. The findings from researches already conducted on the same topic indicate that there are some inconsistencies in the research results on whether increased concentrations of vitamin D is directly associated with a reduction in the risks of getting breast cancer. The same results also confirm that there is limited information about the status of vitamin D among the survivors of breast cancer. The need to understand the status of vitamin D among patients with breast cancer is important as vitamin D is known to influence cellular events that are very important in relation to survival and prognosis. This paper assess the circulation of [25(OH) D] so as to determine the status of vitamin D in relation to survivor coherent of breast cancer (Lin, 2007). Breast cancer Situation In considering the survivor cohort of breast cancer, very few women have been observed to have [25(OH) D] circulation concentration which can be viewed as being optimal for good health. There has been an increase cause of alarm regarding the high levels of insufficiency which are approximated to be about 69.4% and frank deficiency of about 6.2%. As the data on whether the status of vitamin D can be used to show the survival of patients with breast cancer proves to be sparse, there are other findings indicating the existence of an association between breast cancer and vitamin D status. One of the studies is the examination of the association of vitamin D that is UV-induced, assessed by latitude and season, with prognosis and incidence of colon, prostrate and breast cancers (Goodwin, 2009). The results of this study showed that breast cancer recorded the lowest fatality cases for cancers diagnosed in both autumn and summer. These two seasons are the ones that experience the highest levels of [25(OH) D]. To achieve standard results, the study was age controlled. However, the blood values in the study were from an estimated population and not from the patients being studied. The reports at the end of the studies indicated that vitamin D gained from diet and [25(OH) D] biomarker measures are linked to improved survival. The follow up study by Health Professionals showed an inverse association between the incidence of cancer and cancer mortality with serum [25(OH) D] (Rapp, 2008). How Vitamin D Works Vitamin D works in such away that it regulates the growth of cells, reduces proliferation, induces apoptosis and increase tissues and organs immune response all over the body with breast being included. Apart from the role played by vitamin D in affecting the carcinogenesis mechanisms and pathways, it also increases the immune response. It is critical for patients under chemotherapy to receive vitamin D status that is optimal due to such patient’s immune functions that are somehow compromised and infection susceptibility. Recent studies have it that vitamin D contributes to innate immunity. Other studies have shown how [25(OH) D] induces both TLR2 and CD14 expressions. The same studies show that multiple genes can be up-regulated using vitamin D. As to whether vitamin D’s status as seen in HEAL is an indication of other survivors of breast cancer or the level at which marginal status affects breast cancer related factors, that has remained a crucial clinical issue. Women with African-America origin were observed to have the lowest [25(OH) D] concentration in HEAL and this was associated with their poor survival rates of breast cancer (Hanley and Davison, 2005). Vitamin D in relation to Breast Cancer Although there are many studies that examine the relation between incidences of breast cancer and vitamin D levels, there are very few of such studies that go to the extent of examining the levels of vitamin D and vitamin D prevalence deficiency in breast cancer patients. It is of equal importance to observe closely such patent’s vitamin D levels because they are highly vulnerable to after and before cancer treatment fractures. Studies aimed at determining vitamin D prevalence deficiency in women under non-metastatic clinical care as well as examining the BMD and vitamin D baseline levels association, involve having patients with 25-OH vitamin D that are of sub-optimal levels prescribed with vitamin D supplements during the clinical care while the patients having 25-OH vitamin D at optimal levels continue with the regimen. The levels of 25-OH were then reassessed after a period of 8 to 16 weeks thus the efficiency of both the low and high dose supplements was determined (Luke, 2011). Vitamin D has been observed to play several roles that are important when it comes to body functions, some of which are particularly important for patients with breast cancer. Among these functions is the health of bones; women having breast cancer have been observed to suffer from high rates of fractures and bone loss than those without cancer. The findings from some of the researches mentioned above indicate that women having 25-OH vitamin D levels that are below 32ng/ml had noticeably lower BMD lumber as compared to those with their levels above 32 ng/ml. This findings show the importance of having the 25-OH vitamin D levels maintained above 32ng/ml (Katherine, 2009). This is because such levels preserve BMD thus reducing the chances of patients with breast cancer to suffer from fractures. Vitamin D also helps in controlling other issues associated with patients suffering from breast cancer such as falls and arthragias. Arthralgias affects a good number of patients with bread cancer and is the main reason why aromatase inhibitor therapy was discontinued. High vitamin D dose supplementation in patients with breast cancer significantly checks on arthralgia that has been induced by aromatase. Falls on the other hand results in balance losses related to a reduction in the strength of muscles. Falls are one of the main causes of excess mortality and morbidity. Vitamin D plays a direct role in muscular functions regulation and clinical studies show that vitamin D reduces falls incidents significantly. Following the vital role played by vitamin D, a good number of health issues that are important to patients with breast cancer thus it remains imperative that the right amount of 25-OH vitamin levels have to be maintained in any population. However, there are no guidelines that have been officially passed on the particular supplement regimes of vitamin D thus a state of confusion among interested parties. In an effort to correct 25-OH vitamin D levels, patients with breast cancer were put under several supplementation regimes of oral vitamin D. The result of this study, just like most of the other studies, indicated that a low vitamin D dose on a daily basis is not enough to correct cancer patient’s vitamin D deficiencies. The levels of 25-OH vitamin D have to be closely monitored so as to reduce the risks associated with issues related to the treatment of cancer like falls, bone loss and arthralgia (Elizabeth, 2011). Limitation of Studies There are several limitations associated with the studies on how vitamin D is related to breast cancer. One of the limitations is on the study sample; like the study on women with African-American origin, the sample used for the study was dominated by white women who were non-Hispanic. In addition, in most studies, the data collected had not been exposed to the sun thus it was impossible to asses the exposure of UV-B. Also, vitamin D dietary assessment was not well carried out as a result of the scarcity of food sources. The collected blood samples were post-breast cancer analysis thus resulting to hardships in establishing the sequential relationship between clinical characteristics of breast cancer and the status of vitamin D Treatment Studies have showed that women who were diagnosed to be having breast cancer during summer had a higher chance of surviving compared to those diagnosed during winter. This is because the levels of vitamin D are normally higher in summer as compared to winter thus the above situation. So far, there is no study that has been reported indication that women have been successfully treated using vitamin D. However, this has not stopped centers on cancer treatment from giving patients at least 125 mcg every day of vitamin D. This has worked with patients with different types of cancer apart from breast cancer. Conclusion Some of the results from the studies conducted do not support the formulated hypothesis on the relation been 25(OH) D circulating concentration taken after breast cancer treatment and the survival or recurrence of the disease. Some of the findings indicated that the measurement timing of 25(OH) D played a vital role in the evaluation of the cancer endpoints associations. Considering the situation of survivors of breast cancer that is seen as being multiethnic cohort, most women had low concentrations of serum of [25(OH) D]. [25(OH) D] was the main biomarker that was based on in assessing the status of vitamin D. While lack of vitamin D has proved to be a major concern in populations globally, and mostly in African Americans and the elderly, the results of the studies indicate that the survivors of breast cancer are at a high risk for deficiencies related to vitamin D. It is still not evident even after all these studies as to whether the status of vitamin D can be used to predict prognosis. This calls for further studies and investigations on the same issue as it has proved to be of great significance. Nevertheless, interested parties may think of considering taking tests on serum [25(OH) D] with regards to patients with breast cancer and come up with appropriate recommendations on ways of improving the status of vitamin D (Marian, 2008). Recommendations There are several testing methods that are based on in determining vitamin D levels but such methods are not advisable. Incase a patient has repeated falls and fractures, the responsibility should be left to the doctor to decide whether or not to conduct the test. For vitamin D intake that is adequate, patience and normal people are advised to revisit their diets and ensure they get enough sunshine. A person should spare at least thirty minutes of sunlight two times every week and mostly in the morning and in the evening. This is sufficient amount of sunlight to any individual either sick or healthy. Such exposure levels reduce cancer risks. In a situation where sunlight and diet are not sufficient, then there are other considerations of supplements that can be employed. References Elizabeth, T. (2011). ‘Vitamin D and breast cancer recurrence in the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living’. Am J Clin Nutr. 93(1):108-117 Goodwin, P. et el. (2009). ‘Prognostic effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in early breast cancer.’ J Clin Oncol. 27:3757-3763 Hanley, D & Davison, K. (2005). ‘Vitamin D insufficiency in North America.’ J Nutr. 135:332-337 Katherine, D. et el. (2009). ‘Association between Plasma 25-Hydroxyvuitamin D and Breast Cancer’. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2(6): 598-604 Lin, J. et el. (2007). Intakes of calcium and vitamin D and breast cancer risk in women. Archives of Internal Medicine. 167:1050-9 Luke, J. et el. (2011). ‘The effect of various vitamin D supplementation regimens in breast cancer patients’. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 127(1): 171-177 Marian, L. et el. (2008). ‘Vitamin D insufficiency in a multiethnic cohort of breast cancer survivors’. Am J Clin Nutr. 88(1):133-139 Rapp, K. et el. (2008). ‘Hip fractures in institutionalized elderly people: incidence rates and excess mortality.’ J Bone Miner Res. 23:1825-1831 Read More