title: Circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of breast cancer: a nested case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental evidence suggests a protective role for circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in breast cancer development, but the results of epidemiological studies have been inconsistent.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-control study nested within two prospective cohorts, the New York University Women's Health Study and the Northern Sweden Mammary Screening Cohort. Blood samples were collected at enrollment, and women were followed up for breast cancer ascertainment. In total, 1,585 incident breast cancer cases were individually-matched to 2,940 controls. Of these subjects, 678 cases and 1,208 controls contributed two repeat blood samples, at least one year apart. Circulating levels of 25(OH)D were measured, and multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No association was observed between circulating levels of 25(OH)D and overall breast cancer risk (multivariate-adjusted model OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.76-1.16 for the highest vs. lowest quintile, ptrend = 0.30). The temporal reliability of 25(OH)D measured in repeat blood samples was high (intraclass correlation coefficients for season-adjusted 25(OH)D > 0.70). An inverse association between 25(OH)D levels and breast cancer risk was observed among women who were ≤ 45 years of age (ORQ5-Q1 = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.30-0.79, ptrend = 0.01) or premenopausal at enrollment (ORQ5-Q1 = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.48-0.92, ptrend = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating 25(OH)D levels were not associated with breast cancer risk overall, although we could not exclude the possibility of a protective effect in younger women. Recommendations regarding vitamin D supplementation should be based on considerations other than breast cancer prevention.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Scarmo
authors: Yelena
authors: Y
authors: Afanasyeva
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Lenner
authors: Karen L
authors: KL
authors: Koenig
authors: Ronald L
authors: RL
authors: Horst
authors: Tess V
authors: TV
authors: Clendenen
authors: Alan A
authors: AA
authors: Arslan
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Göran
authors: G
authors: Hallmans
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Lundin
authors: Sabina
authors: S
authors: Rinaldi
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Toniolo
authors: Roy E
authors: RE
authors: Shore
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Zeleniuch-Jacquotte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D