Vitamin D

Suggested

4 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 23, 2026

Suggested4 studies

Vitamin D supplementation supports breast cancer prevention and bone health during treatment

Four studies—a case-control study, two consensus statements, and a systematic review—link vitamin D to breast cancer risk reduction and essential supportive care. In 660 African-American and Hispanic women, serum 25(OH)D3 below 20 ng/mL increased breast cancer odds 1.9–2.5-fold (95% CI 1.1–4.8), with triple-negative breast cancer risk rising 5.4-fold in African-American women (p=0.02). Multiple international expert panels (IOF, CABS, ECTS, BCTEG) unanimously recommend vitamin D supplementation for all patients on aromatase inhibitors, which raise fracture risk 7–11% versus tamoxifen. A systematic review of experimental and clinical evidence confirmed vitamin D's antiproliferative, pro-differentiating, and immune-modulatory effects on breast tumor cells, identifying breast cancer as a primary target for vitamin D chemoprevention. Adequate vitamin D status—maintained above 20 ng/mL—serves dual roles: lowering cancer risk in deficient populations and protecting bone density during endocrine therapy.

Evidence

Endocrine therapy and related issues in hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer: a roundtable discussion by the breast cancer therapy expert group (BCTEG)

Authors: AH Partridge, B Thürlimann, C Owusu, CM Dezii, DC Sgroi, DC Sgroi, DL Hershman, DL Hershman, E Blok, Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG), EP Mamounas, F Cardoso, JL Khatcheressian, KR Davies, LN Harris, M Gnant, M Gnant, NL Henry, R Peto, RT Chlebowski, S Dhesy-Thind, S Wills, V Tjan-Heijnen, Y Zhang

Published: January 1, 2018

The BCTEG expert panel of global oncology experts reviewed adverse events associated with endocrine therapy including musculoskeletal symptoms and bone density loss from aromatase inhibitors. The consensus statement noted that aromatase inhibitors increase fracture risk by approximately 7-11% compared with tamoxifen across major adjuvant trials (ATAC, BIG 1-98, IES). The panel recommended monitoring bone health and ensuring adequate vitamin D and calcium intake as part of standard supportive care during endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor-positive early breast cancer.

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Association of Vitamin D3 Level with Breast Cancer Risk and Prognosis in African-American and Hispanic Women.

Authors: Chlebowski, Rowan, Clayton, Sheilah, Sarkissyan, Marianna, Vadgama, Jaydutt V, Wu, Yanyuan

Published: October 1, 2017

In a case-control study of 237 African-American women (119 cases, 118 controls) and 423 Hispanic women (124 cases, 299 controls), serum 25(OH)D3 levels below 20 ng/mL were significantly associated with breast cancer in both groups. African-American women with low vitamin D had 2.5 times higher odds of breast cancer (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.3-4.8), while Hispanic women had 1.9 times higher odds (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.0). Notably, 69.2% of African-Americans and 37.8% of Hispanics had deficient vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL. Low vitamin D was also significantly associated with triple negative breast cancer in African-Americans (OR = 5.4, p = 0.02, 95% CI = 1.4-15). Levels below 26 ng/mL predicted decreased disease-free survival.

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Management of Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Bone Loss (AIBL) in postmenopausal women with hormone sensitive breast cancer: Joint position statement of the IOF, CABS, ECTS, IEG, ESCEO IMS, and SIOG.

Authors: Aapro, Aft, Amir, Anastasilakis, Bartl, Becker, Bjarnason, Bliuc, Bock, Body, Body, Bone, Bouvard, Brufsky, Carbonell-Abella, Chang, Chlebowski, Christensen, Coates, Coleman, Coleman, Coleman, Coleman, Coleman, Colzani, Confavreux, Datta, De Laet, Diel, Diez-Perez, Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative, Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative, Edwards, Edwards, Eidtmann, Ellis, Forbes, Ginsburg, Gnant, Gnant, Gnant, Goldhirsch, Goss, Goss, Greenberg, Greenspan, Greenspan, Guise, Ha, Hadji, Hadji, Hadji, Hadji, Hadji, Hadji, Hadji, Hadji, Hadji, Han, Hernlund, Hillner, Hines, Hoer, Howe, Howell, Inoue, Kanis, Kanis, Kanis, Kanis, Kanis, Kanis, Kemmler, Kim, Kim, Knobf, Kyvernitakis, Kyvernitakis, Lee, Leslie, Lester, Lester, Lomax, Marshall, Melton, Miller, Miller, Neuner, Newcomb, Nicks, Popp, Powles, Rabaglio, Rack, Reginster, Reid, Rennert, Rennert, Rhee, Rizzoli, Rochlitz, Rodriguez-Sanz, Saarto, Saarto, Schimdt, Servitja, Sestak, Shi, Silverman, Singh, Solomayer, Van Poznak, Van Poznak, van Staa, Vestergaard, Villa, Wagner-Johnston, Waning, Winer, Ziller

Published: January 1, 2017

The interdisciplinary consensus of IOF, CABS, ECTS, IEG, ESCEO, IMS, and SIOG, based on a systematic literature review of recent advances in AI-associated bone loss management, recommends vitamin D supplementation for all patients initiating aromatase inhibitor treatment. Real-world data demonstrate fracture rates substantially higher than those reported in randomized controlled trials. The position statement classifies vitamin D as a universal recommendation regardless of baseline T-score, with bone mineral density monitoring recommended at 12-24 months to assess treatment response.

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Vitamin D in cancer chemoprevention

Authors: Aiello, S, Crescimanno, M, Di Majo, D, Flandina, C, Giammanco, M, La Guardia, M, Leto, G, Tumminello, FM

Published: April 9, 2015

A systematic review across ISI Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar examined experimental and clinical studies on Vitamin D and cancer. Vitamin D and its metabolites demonstrated antiproliferative, pro-differentiating, and immune modulatory effects on tumor cells in vitro. In vivo studies showed delayed tumor growth. Clinical observations across multiple study types supported Vitamin D's role in preventing malignant transformation and progression of breast cancer. The review identified breast cancer as one of the primary tumor types where Vitamin D and its analogues showed chemopreventive potential, supporting its consideration as a novel chemopreventive agent.

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