The role of vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis in breast cancer

Aim Epidemiological studies suggest an association between vitamin D and calcium intake and breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the association of breast cancer with vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis according to menopausal status and to examine vitamin D and bone mineral density (BMD) levels in breast cancer patients. Methods This was an observational cohort hospital‐based study. It included 635 patients with breast cancer. Socio‐demographic information, type of consanguinity, menopause status, medical history, lifestyle habits, dietary intake, BMD measurements and vitamin D levels were collected. Descriptive and univariate analyses were performed. Results Of the studied patients, 36.1% were Qataris, 63.9% non‐Qatari Arabs, 40% premenopausal women, 20.9% university graduates and 37.2% housewives. Overall, 31.8% of breast cancer women were affected with osteopenia/osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency (10.7% vs. 7.9%) and severe vitamin D insufficiency (39.2% vs. 32.5%) were higher in postmenopausal women than premenopausal women (P