Vitamin D3 Supplementation Has No Impact on Breast Density Percentage, Breast Cancer Risk

Supplementation with vitamin D₃ in premenopausal women may not have a significant effect in decreasing breast density percentage, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention.

Increased breast cancer risk has been correlated with high breast density, which indicates how much stromal and epithelial tissue is in the breast. Prior studies have shown that vitamin D intake may be associated with breast density reduction for premenopausal women.

This double blind, placebo-controlled trial randomized 405 premenopausal women with no prior history of cancer 1:1:1:1 to receive placebo or vitamin D₃ in strengths of 1000, 2000, or 3000 IU/day. Study participants received a mammogram at baseline and at the 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome of the study was the mean change in percent mammographic breast density.

The mean ± SE change in breast density for patients randomized to receive vitamin D₃ 1000 IU/day was –5.5% ± 0.5%, and vitamin D₃ 2000 IU/day was –5.9 ± 0.5%. The changes were not significant in comparison to the reduction seen in the placebo arm (–5.7 ± 0.5%; P =1.0). Women receiving vitamin D₃ 3000 IU/day had a slight decrease in breast density, but less than that of placebo (–3.8 ± 0.5%; P =.03).

The study results show that while premenopausal women receiving vitamin D₃ supplementation may experience a decrease in breast density, the observed benefit is no greater than that of placebo in reducing breast cancer risk. 

Reference

1. Brisson J, Berube S, Diorio C, et al. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on breast density in premenopausal women [published online July 14, 2017]. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev.