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Almost All Women With Breast Cancer Are Also Vitamin D Deficient
We all know someone who's been affected by breast cancer, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that it's the most common type of cancer worldwide. According to a 2022 review published in The Breast, breast cancer accounts for one in eight cancer diagnoses and resulted in a total of 2.3 million new cases in 2020.
While we aren't shocked that vitamin D is profoundly helpful in promoting breast health given its vast and impactful health benefits, we found this statistic too compelling to not explore further—especially considering vitamin D deficiency affects 29% of U.S. adults2.
The connection between vitamin D & breast cancer
In a 2017 Tumor Biology systematic review and meta-analysis, VDR gene polymorphisms were found to increase breast cancer risk3. Researchers believe the link between vitamin D and breast cancer risk has to do with vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes4 and their function in mammary glands—which include regulating calcium transportation during lactation and milk production.
How vitamin D sufficiency can help prevent breast cancer
While research on the exact mechanisms and pathways of the sunshine vitamin's effect on breast cancer are ongoing, evidence consistently shows a clear association between circulating vitamin D [i.e., 25(OH)D serum vitamin D levels] and breast cancer risk.
In a 2015 case-control study from Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, women deficient in vitamin D [i.e., with 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/ml] had a 27% higher risk5 of breast cancer than women with sufficient vitamin D levels. But while clinical vitamin D sufficiency is defined as 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/ml, other research indicates that higher levels provide greater protection against breast cancer risk.
Case in point: In one pooled analysis from Anticancer Research, a serum 25(OH)D level of 47 ng/ml was found to lower breast cancer risk by 50%6. This aligns with what mindbodygreen has found after speaking to leading endocrinologists, R.D.s, and longevity experts—a truly optimal vitamin D status of 50 ng/ml or higher is the goal for thriving health and well-being.
How to achieve & maintain truly optimal vitamin D levels
Evidence suggests the average person needs to consume 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day to reach the goal serum level of 50 ng/ml. The problem? Food sources high in vitamin D don't offer enough to help you achieve this goal (unless you're drinking 50 glasses of milk a day, that is).
And though it's nicknamed the "sunshine vitamin," most people don't get enough safe sun exposure to achieve optimal vitamin D status. Age, latitude, skin tone, season, climate, skin tone, and biological sex all impact one's ability to produce vitamin D from sun exposure, so it's not a reliable source for most.
The most effective way to reach and sustain optimal serum vitamin D levels is by taking a high-quality supplement that delivers 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 (bonus points if it features built-in healthy fats for enhanced bioavailability). Hint: You can find mindbodygreen's all-time favorite vitamin D supplement selections here.
The takeaway
A whopping 96% of the breast cancer population is also deficient in vitamin D. Science shows that achieving vitamin D sufficiency (specifically, serum levels of 47 ng/ml or higher) can help cut your breast cancer risk in half.
To reach and sustain vitamin D sufficiency, experts suggest you increase your vitamin D3 intake to 5,000 IU per day. For a simple and effective way to get adequate vitamin D on a daily basis, consider a premium supplement.
6 Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5802611/
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-insufficiency-among-us-adults-prevalence-predictors-and-clinical-implications/44E436843510FE6BDE856D5BCB9C651F
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29072133/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24297042/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26037255/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21868542/