title: Vitamin D association with estradiol and progesterone in young  women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D may reduce breast cancer risk through an effect on steroid hormones in cycling women.We conducted a study to determine whether there is an association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and estradiol and progesterone in young women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteer women aged 18-22 and not using hormonal contraceptives were recruited during summer and winter. They provided demographic and lifestyle information and a blood sample. Women recruited in winter gave a second sample after taking vitamin D supplement for 4 weeks. There were 101 women sampled during the luteal phase (1-14 days prior to the start of the next menstrual period). Generalized estimating equation linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between 25(OH)D and estradiol and progesterone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Per increase of 10 nmol/l of 25(OH)D, progesterone multiplicatively decreased by a factor of 10% (95% CI 5-14%, p < 0.001) and estradiol decreased by a factor of 3% (95% CI 0-6%, p = 0.04) after adjustment for age, body mass index, ethnicity, season, alcohol use, smoking, and physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher levels of vitamin D may reduce progesterone and estradiol, providing a potential mechanism for reduction in breast cancer risk from increased vitamin D exposure in young women.
authors.affiliation: Prosserman Centre for Health Research, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. knight@lunenfeld.ca
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Jody
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Kristina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Blackmore
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Raboud
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vieth
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012621:Seasons; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D