An Updated Meta-Analysis on Serum Vitamin D Levels and the Risk of Breast Cancer Vitamin D Levels and Breast Cancer Risk
Abstract
Background: Numerous observational studies suggest an inverse relationship between high vitamin D levels and breast cancer risk. This study was conducted to determine the association between vitamin D levels and breast cancer risk.
Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar up to February 16, 2024. Relevant articles were extracted and title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening was carried out. The quality assessment is followed by data extraction and analysis for selected articles. All pooled analyses were performed on the natural log scale and exponentiated to obtain valid odds ratios.
Results: Nineteen case-control studies, comprising 12,541 cases and 29,272 controls, were included. Lower circulating vitamin D levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.31–2.23, p < 0.001). Between‑study heterogeneity was high (I² = 96.4%). In a pre-specified subgroup analysis by study design, nested case-control studies showed a modest but statistically significant increase in risk (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.06–1.36, I² = 0.0%), whereas retrospective studies showed a larger but highly heterogeneous increase in risk (OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.38–3.08, I² = 98.1%).
Conclusion: This meta‑analysis, using a harmonized log‑scale approach, supports a significant inverse association between vitamin D levels and breast cancer risk. The most reliable evidence from nested case‑control studies suggests a modest increase in risk, while retrospective studies likely overestimate the association due to reverse causality. Further well‑designed prospective studies are warranted.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ghazal Mehranpour, Maryam Beigrezaee, Atefeh Shahryari Atashgah, Amirreza Taherkhani, Seyede Zahra Ashrafi, Hana Piroti, Ehsan Mehrtabar, Elham Abdi, Sepehr Salehi Omran, Sina Seyedipour, Niloofar Deravi, Foojan Dadashzadeh, Haleh Alizadeh
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