• Investigating the Role of Vitamin D in the Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer
  • vahideh hejini nezhad,1 mahsa karimzadeh,2 parvin babaei,3,*
    1. Nursing student of Nursing and Midwifery Rafsanjan University of medical sciences, Rafsanjan, iran
    2. Nursing student of Nursing and Midwifery Rafsanjan University of medical sciences, Rafsanjan, iran
    3. MSc Pediatric Nursing Student, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan,Iran


  • Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of death among women, representing a major public health challenge. Numerous factors, including unhealthy dietary patterns and lifestyle, are associated with an increased risk of this disease. In recent years, a growing body of research has focused on the role of vitamin D as a dietary supplement with potential anti-carcinogenic properties in managing this disease. The main hypothesis is that vitamin D can act as an adjuvant agent in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer by regulating genes responsible for cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, the evidence in this area is not yet conclusive and requires a more comprehensive review. The aim of this study is to analyze and synthesize key findings from recent studies on the relationship between vitamin D intake and breast cancer risk, its efficacy alongside conventional treatments, and its impact on patients' general health and side effects.
  • Methods: This study is a simple review of published scientific articles. A comprehensive and targeted search was conducted in reputable international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as national databases SID and Magiran. Boolean operators (AND/OR) and a combination of primary keywords, including "breast cancer," "vitamin D," "dietary supplement," and "chemotherapy," were used. In the initial search, relevant articles were identified and screened based on inclusion criteria (including cohort studies, randomized clinical trials, and open-access research articles) and exclusion criteria (including gray and duplicate literature, and irrelevant articles). Ultimately, 11 studies were included in this review for analysis and to provide a comprehensive perspective.
  • Results: The results of this review indicate that the role of vitamin D in breast cancer is complex and multifaceted. A large cohort study showed that recent use of vitamin D supplements is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, especially for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In the context of treatment, the findings were varied: a randomized clinical trial reported that vitamin D supplementation significantly increased the probability of a pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while another study found no clear association between the supplement and pCR. Additionally, other positive results were observed: combining vitamin D supplements with omega-3 fatty acids or yoga helps improve nutritional status, enhance quality of life, and modulate cytokine profiles (increasing IL-10 and decreasing TNF-α). This indicates the potential anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D. However, studies on side effects also revealed important points: one study failed to demonstrate any protective effect of vitamin D on ovarian reserve (AMH hormone levels) in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Furthermore, consuming very high doses of this supplement, although effective in correcting its deficiency, increased the risk of the complication of hypercalciuria.
  • Conclusion: The collected evidence suggests that vitamin D has significant potential in reducing the risk of breast cancer and improving its treatment outcomes. The findings indicate that this supplement can be beneficial as an adjuvant therapy, particularly for enhancing the response to chemotherapy and improving the inflammatory state of patients. Nevertheless, due to conflicting results in some studies and the need to determine the optimal dose and potential side effects, conducting larger, more robust clinical trials with longer follow-up periods is essential to definitively confirm these effects and determine the best therapeutic approach.
  • Keywords: Breast cancer, Vitamin D, Dietary supplement, Chemotherapy