Correlation between Vitamin D Deficiency and Breast Tissue Changes during Child Bearing Age

Abstract

Background: The role of vitamin D, a steroid hormone that exerts most of its biological activities by binding to the vitamin D receptor, in health and disease is far from understood and the literature is full of contradictory findings. Still, evidence that vitamin D is capable of modulating several features of cancer exist. Objective: To correlate changes in breast tissue with low serum levels of Vitamin D(Vit D) in females during their reproductive years. Methods: This study was conducted in the department of Anatomy, Ziauddin Medical College, Karachi and data collected from the department of surgery, Patel Hospital, Karachi in patients undergoing biopsy of the breast lump, between February 2012 and February 2013. 90 patients with diagnosis of breast lump, between 25-40 years of age, with parity varying from 1-5 were divided into 2 groups, those with serum Vit D levels in the normal Range(group A) and those having marked deficiency of serum Vit D levels(group B). Detailed histological study of the biopsy specimen was conducted in all the patients. Results: Patients who had a marked deficiency of serum vitamin D levels, had more proliferation of stromal connective tissue in group B whereas in group A patients, minimal proliferation of connective tissue was observed in H and E stained slides under the light microscope. Conclusion: It seems clear that Breast Cancer prevention includes maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels by using oral vitamin D supplementation and with prudent exposure to sunlight. Key Words: Breast Lump, Vitamin D, H and E Stain, Serum 25(OH) D, VDR, MAARS Protein.