title: Vitamin D, calcium, and mammographic breast densities.
abstract: Vitamin D and calcium are being evaluated as potential breast cancer prevention agents. This study reports on the relation of dietary vitamin D and calcium to mammographic breast densities, one of the strongest breast cancer risk factors. Participants were women ages 40 to 60 years who had had a screening mammogram in Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts (1989-1990). Diet was assessed by semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and the percentage of the breast showing densities was estimated visually by a single observer without information on subjects. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare dietary intakes of vitamin D and calcium between women classified as having few densities (< or =30% of the breast with density, n = 287) and extensive densities (> or =70% of the breast with density, n = 256). For categories of increasing vitamin D intake (<50, 50-99, 100-199, and > or =200 IU/d), adjusted odds ratios (OR) for extensive densities were 1.00 (reference), 0.51, 0.37, and 0.24, respectively (P for trend = 0.0005). For increasing calcium intake (<500, 500-749, 750-999, and > or =1,000 mg/d), adjusted ORs were 1.00 (reference), 0.63, 0.25, and 0.24, respectively (P for trend = 0.0006). Combination of higher intakes of vitamin D and calcium (> or =100 IU/d and > or =750 mg/d, respectively) were associated with a reduction of breast densities (OR, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.54) compared with those consuming <100 IU/d and <750 mg/d. Increases in vitamin D and calcium intakes were associated with decreases in breast densities, suggesting that dietary vitamin D and calcium could reduce breast cancer risk possibly through influences on breast tissue morphology.
authors.affiliation: Unité de recherche en santé des populations, Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bérubé
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diorio
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verhoek-Oftedahl
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brisson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012237:Rhode Island; D012306:Risk; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D