A pilot study of vitamin D, calcium, and percent breast density in Hispanic women

No studies have examined the associations of vitamin D and calcium intake with mammographic breast density in Hispanic women. Using the Southwest Food Frequency Questionnaire, we investigated these associations in a sample of 99 Hispanic women from the Chicago Breast Health Project Phase II Pilot Study. Using cutpoints based on recommended daily allowances, we classified women according to their intake status as low, medium, or high and compared adjusted mean percent density and dense area across the intake groups. Mean percent densities were 22.0%, 20.3%, and 9.6%, respectively, in the low, medium, and high intake groups for dietary vitamin D (P =.009). Inverse associations also were observed when the analysis was stratified by menopausal status. Total dense area was weakly and inversely associated with intake of dietary vitamin D (P =.1). There were no other meaningful associations. These results support previous findings of inverse associations between dietary vitamin D and breast density. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.