Overview

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Questionable
Based on 29 Researches
6.8
USERS' SCORE
Good
Based on 1 Review
8.4

Top Medical Research Studies

We examined the relationship between vitamin D intake and breast cancer, delving into how this vitamin may play a role in prevention and management. The findings suggest that vitamin D may have a protective effect, potentially lowering the risk of developing breast cancer.

While we found a notable connection, it’s important to recognize that most of the existing evidence comes from observational studies. This means we can identify associations but cannot definitively say that vitamin D causes these effects.

Additionally, there are several complexities in studying vitamin D, such as varying metabolism and differences in study designs, which make drawing firm conclusions challenging.

Although the research provides intriguing insights, more rigorous studies are necessary to truly clarify how vitamin D could be integrated into breast cancer care moving forward.
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8
Vitamin D impacts breast cancer outcomes
We explored how vitamin D (VD) levels might impact breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). The study reviewed data from six different research projects involving patients who had confirmed diagnoses of BC and had their vitamin D levels measured before starting chemotherapy.

Our analysis revealed some intriguing findings. Specifically, maintaining adequate vitamin D levels appeared to lower the chances of not responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy by 22%. Additionally, those with sufficient vitamin D experienced a 35% reduced risk of disease progression compared to those with low or deficient levels. This suggests that vitamin D might play a beneficial role in improving treatment outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Overall, these results underscore the importance of keeping vitamin D levels within a healthy range during cancer treatment. They encourage us to delve deeper into how vitamin D influences cancer biology and its potential as a supportive therapy in breast cancer management.
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We explored the connection between vitamin D levels and muscle strength in women with breast cancer. This research involved adult women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer within the last 12 months, ensuring that none had metastases or recurrences. Our focus was on understanding how inadequate vitamin D might relate to reduced muscle strength in this specific group.

We discovered that a significant portion of the participants, around 70%, had insufficient levels of vitamin D. This deficiency was notably linked to lower muscle strength, as indicated by the Handgrip Strength test. Specifically, the findings showed that women with insufficient vitamin D were more likely to fall into the lower muscle strength categories.

The study sheds light on the importance of monitoring vitamin D levels in women battling breast cancer. Given the link between low vitamin D and weaker muscle strength, addressing this deficiency might offer a new avenue for improving overall health and vitality in these patients.
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Most Useful Reviews

7.5
Side effects manageable
4 people found this helpful
I read about vitamin D possibly reducing the side effects of the drug Arimidex (anastrozole), which I take daily for estrogen-positive breast cancer. My oncologist is pleased that I am managing the side effects, and I believe that taking 5000 IUs of Vitamin D3 daily contributes to that. Some women in my support group have had to stop Arimidex due to side effects, so I hope this helps me prevent that. I am 65 days in and tolerating it well, which is reassuring given my previous chemotherapy side effects. Always consult with your doctor, of course.
Read More

Medical Researches

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Questionable
Based on 29 Researches
6.8
  • All Researches
9
Vitamin D3 reduces breast cancer invasion
We set out to explore how Vitamin D3, when combined with gold nanoparticles (VD3-GNPs), could influence breast cancer's aggressiveness. Our research focused on breast cancer cell lines, specifically MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, to see if this innovative treatment could significantly reduce cancer cell migration and invasion.

Through a series of methods including Western blots and migration/invasion assays, we observed that the VD3-GNP treatment led to an impressive reduction in cancer aggressiveness, with migration and invasion rates dropping by over 45%. This effect seems to come from the downregulation of key pathways associated with cancer growth and spread, namely the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, as well as ETV7 and the Hippo pathway.

What's particularly surprising is the fact that we achieved these results using a relatively low dose of Vitamin D3—three orders of magnitude lower than doses used in past studies. This makes VD3-GNPs an appealing option for non-toxic and cost-effective treatments aimed at combating breast cancer's aggressive nature.
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9
Vitamin D3 enhances breast cancer treatment
We aimed to understand how vitamin D3 influences breast cancer treatment by testing it alongside doxorubicin (Dox) and probiotics using a group of mice. The study involved female BALB/c mice that were divided into various groups to see how these treatments affected tumor growth and overall health compared to a control group.

Our findings showed that the combinations of Dox with vitamin D3 and probiotics significantly reduced tumor size and weight, indicating that vitamin D3 may enhance the effectiveness of breast cancer chemotherapy. The study also found that these combinations had protective effects against the toxicity typically caused by Dox. Especially notable was the increase in genes associated with tumor reduction and a decrease in those linked to cancer cell survival.

However, it’s essential to note that this study focused on the combined effects of vitamin D3, probiotics, and Dox, which makes it challenging to isolate the specific impact of vitamin D3 alone on breast cancer outcomes. Overall, the results suggest that incorporating vitamin D3 into breast cancer treatment protocols could be beneficial, particularly in combination with other agents.
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We aimed to understand how EB1089, a vitamin D3 analog, influences the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer when combined with established therapies like lapatinib and antiestrogens. In our research, we used two types of breast cancer cells—BT-474 and SK-BR-3—both of which are HER2-positive but have differing estrogen receptor statuses.

Our findings revealed that EB1089 significantly boosted the antiproliferative effects of lapatinib when used together with antiestrogens. Notably, in the SK-BR-3 cells, which are estrogen receptor-negative, EB1089 successfully restored the effectiveness of antiestrogen treatment. This shows that EB1089 plays a pivotal role in enhancing cell growth inhibition in HER2-positive breast cancer cells.

Additionally, we discovered that this analog modulated the expression of the estrogen receptor alpha protein and reduced Akt phosphorylation, contributing to its effects. Overall, our investigation highlights the potential of incorporating vitamin D3 analogs like EB1089 into existing cancer treatment regimens, opening new avenues for managing HER2-positive breast cancer more effectively.
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9
Combination therapy shows promise
We investigated the potential impact of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferols, commonly known as vitamin D3, alongside genistein, a dietary phytoestrogen, on breast cancer cell lines, specifically MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Our research focused on their ability to inhibit cancer cell growth, progression, and metastasis, both individually and in combination.

Through a series of assays, including flow cytometry and cell invasion tests, we observed that vitamin D3 and genistein were effective in reducing cell proliferation. Notably, they prompted the cancer cells to enter a resting phase and triggered the process of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. We found that this was linked to increased expression of certain genes like BAX and CASP3 and decreased levels of the BCL-2 gene, a key player in cell survival.

Interestingly, both compounds also showed promise in curbing metastasis. They enhanced the expression of E-cadherin, a protein that helps cells stick together, while reducing the expression of other proteins associated with cancer spread. Furthermore, these treatments also positively influenced key protein expressions that enhance cancer response and overall survivability.

Ultimately, our findings suggest that vitamin D3, especially in combination with genistein, holds potential as a candidate for breast cancer treatment. However, given the combined approach, isolating the effects of vitamin D3 alone remains challenging, which adds complexity to our understanding.
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9
Vitamin D3 inhibits breast cancer growth
We explored the role of vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, in combating breast cancer through a comprehensive study involving breast cancer cell lines and a mouse model called Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). To understand how vitamin D3 might affect cancer, we monitored its effects on both estrogen receptor-positive and negative cell lines in vitro, noting that these cells absorbed around 50% of vitamin D3 during a 48-hour incubation period.

Our results showcased that vitamin D3 significantly slowed down the proliferation of breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, with effective inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.10 to 0.35 mM. Prolonged exposure didn’t seem to boost its effectiveness, suggesting an optimal treatment window. Notably, vitamin D3 prompted cell cycle arrest and apoptosis—two crucial mechanisms for controlling cancer growth—through the regulation of specific proteins like p53, cyclin-D1, and Bcl2.

Furthermore, vitamin D3 demonstrated its potential as an anti-angiogenic agent by impeding blood vessel growth both in vitro and during experiments with chorioallantoic membranes. In our in vivo approach, administering vitamin D3 intraperitoneally in mice led to reduced tumor growth and body weight gain.

Overall, the findings indicate that vitamin D3 can exert cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells and may serve as a valuable player in cancer therapy strategies. This prompts further investigation into its therapeutic applications against breast cancer.
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User Reviews

USERS' SCORE
Good
Based on 1 Review
8.4
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
7.5
Side effects manageable
4 people found this helpful
I read about vitamin D possibly reducing the side effects of the drug Arimidex (anastrozole), which I take daily for estrogen-positive breast cancer. My oncologist is pleased that I am managing the side effects, and I believe that taking 5000 IUs of Vitamin D3 daily contributes to that. Some women in my support group have had to stop Arimidex due to side effects, so I hope this helps me prevent that. I am 65 days in and tolerating it well, which is reassuring given my previous chemotherapy side effects. Always consult with your doctor, of course.
Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

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References

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  3. Pereira da Silva Garcia MR, Rechinelli AB, Minto Dos Santos D, Abdala Nogueira Souza J, Barcellos Leite da Silva L, et al. Low Serum Vitamin D Levels Are Associated with Reduced Muscle Strength in Women with Breast Cancer. Nutr Cancer. 2025. doi:10.1080/01635581.2025.2471621
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  21. Roy M, Hussain F. Mitigation of Breast Cancer Cells' Invasiveness via Down Regulation of ETV7, Hippo, and PI3K/mTOR Pathways by Vitamin D3 Gold-Nanoparticles. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25. doi:10.3390/ijms25105348
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  24. Achounna AS, Ordaz-Rosado D, García-Quiroz J, Morales-Guadarrama G, Milo-Rocha E, et al. EB1089 Increases the Antiproliferative Response of Lapatinib in Combination with Antiestrogens in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25. doi:10.3390/ijms25063165
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