Vitamin D and Calcium Association with Breast Cancer Sean Davenport Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most

common cancers among women over 45 years of age. It accounts for 23% of all cancers in women around the world. Studies have shown that the most common cause of breast cancer is from heredity mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2. Studies have shown though that external sources may be involved in the arise of breast cancer. Vitamin D and Calcium specifically have shown an impact. A study we will see shows the implications of the nutritional status of Vitamin D and Calcium and their roles leading to Breast Cancer while another study fails to see the correlation of Calcium and breast cancer. Objective: The primary objective is to evaluate the correlation between breast cancer and Vitamin D and Calcium. One study shows that decreased intakes may have an effect on the chance of getting cancer while another one shows no correlation. An analysis of both experiments and reports will be taken to conclude whether each ones conclusion shares similarities with one another. Materials and Methods: Experiment 1: 10578 premenopausal and 20909 postmenopausal women 45 years and over were evaluated for total calcium and Vitamin D intake. These women were free of Cancers and were set to undergo a ten year study for the development of Breast cancer. Dietary intakes were assessed using a food frequency study to assess calcium and Vitamin D levels throughout the study. Using Cox proportional hazards, a regression was used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Experiment 2: From 1987-1990, 61433 cancer free women were evaluated using The Swedish Mammography Cohort. Dietary calcium levels were assessed also using a food frequency questionnaire and their association with estrogen receptor and progestone receptor. These were again measured in 1997 (approximately 10 years later). Cox proportional hazard models were used in this experiment as well to measure the rate ratios and 95% CI. These were analyzed after ten years to reach a conclusion after many subjects developed breast cancer. Results: Experiment 1: After 10 years, 276 premenopausal women and 743 postmenopausal women had developed invasive breast cancer. Analysis of the dietary records showed that higher intakes of total calcium and Vitamin D were associated, moderately, with a decreased risk of breast cancer. The inverse association with both calcium and Vitamin D was also present for large or poorly differentiated tumors. Experiment 2: After an average of a 17 year follow up, 2952 women developed invasive breast cancer. Dietary intake of Calcium was not associated with risk of developing breast cancer. Calcium concentrations were found to not associate with Estrogen Receptor and Progesterone Receptor. Summary: In the first experiment, Calcium and Vitamin D intakes showed a relationship with the formation of breast cancer. The higher the concentration of Calcium and Vitamin D in the diet was associated with a lowered risk of developing invasive breast cancer. In the second experiment, after analysis of dietary calcium intakes and results of developing breast cancer, there was no association with higher Calcium intakes and decreased risk of breast cancer. Works Cited

Larsson, Susanna C., Leif Bergkvist, and Alicja Wolk. "Long-term Dietary Calcium Intake and Breast Cancer Risk in a Prospective Cohort of Women." (2009): 277-82. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. Lin, Jennifer, PhD, JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH, Nancy Cook, ScD, Julie Buring, ScD, and Shumin Zhang, MD, ScD. "Intakes of Calcium and Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Risk in Women." Original Investigation (2007): 1050-059. American Medical Association. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. "What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?" What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer? American Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. <http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breastcancer-risk-factors>.