Vitamin D for Women

African-American woman have higher rates of vitamin D deficiency associated with aggressive breast cancer than white women, a new study finds.

Researchers at the University of South Carolina studied 107 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past five years, including 60 African-Americans. Sixty percent of African-American women studied had low vitamin D levels, compared to 15% of white women.

“We know that darker skin pigmentation acts somewhat as a block to producing vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, which is the primary source of vitamin D in most people,” study author Susan Steck, PhD, MPH, professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, says in a news release.

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Breast Cancer

All participants donated a blood sample, and vitamin D concentrations were measured.

The mean serum concentration of vitamin D was 29.8 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) in white women and 19.3 ng/ml in African-American women, researchers say in a news release.

Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum concentration of less than 20 ng/mL. Aggressive breast cancer was eight times more likely among patients with vitamin D deficiency.

More Research Needed on Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency

The study, Steck says, provides a foundation for possible preventive strategies, but she adds that more research is needed to confirm findings.

All participants were between 33 and 84 years old.
Vitamin D levels are affected by sun exposure, dietary intake, supplements, skin tone, age, and body mass index.

Women need to take a supplement with Vitamin D because we do not have time to get out in the sun everday. Click on the link below to find a great multi vitamin for women.

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