Vitamin D Supplementation and Testosterone Levels in Breast Cancer Survivors
Vitamin D plays a key role in immune modulation, cell proliferation, and hormone regulation. Dysregulated testosterone may contribute to breast cancer progression. We investigated whether long-term vitamin D supplementation affects serum testosterone levels in breast cancer survivors. Complete data at baseline, 12, and 24 months were derived from 253 women with early-stage breast cancer participating in the DEDiCa trial and randomized to receive either a high-dose vitamin D to maintain serum 25(OH)D at 60 ng/mL (group A) or a standard dose to maintain serum levels at 30 ng/mL (group B). Serum 25(OH)D levels significantly increased in both groups (<i>p</i> < 0.001). No significant changes in testosterone concentrations were observed between treatment groups over the 24 month treatment period (A: 0.125 to 0.140 ng/mL; B: 0.162 to 0.193 ng/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.682). Baseline serum testosterone levels emerged as the most significant predictor of testosterone trajectories, possibly modulated by hormone-suppressive therapy. These results are reassuring that vitamin D supplementation did not adversely affect testosterone levels in this population of breast cancer survivors and may partially concur with a healthy lifestyle to equilibrate testosterone levels.
Authors
- Francesco Messina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7424-8821)
- Monica Pinto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0823-4907)
- Agostino Steffan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6320-3054)
- Vincenzo Montesarchio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5545-8105)
- Massimo Libra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7232-7737)
- Egidio Celentano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3193-5699)
- Lucia Di Capua
- Luca Falzone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7349-6826)
- Michelino De Laurentiis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9009-1572)
- Ernesta Cavalcanti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6302-1579)
- Concetta Montagnese (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3662-2413)
- Massimiliano D’Aiuto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4188-5226)
- Maria Grimaldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5332-7969)
- Anita Minopoli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5909-0547)
- Serena Meola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8394-3877)
- Davide Gatti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7471-3076)
- Anna Crispo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8455-3328)
- Livia S. A. Augustin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6673-8281)
- Piergiacomo Di Gennaro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9711-3842)
- Vincenzo Di Lauro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2124-7534)
- Giuseppe Porciello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8731-2773)
- Francesco Ferraù
- Samuele Massarut (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4717-0544)
- Rosa Pica (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5335-7631)
- Renato de Falco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0629-425X)
- Jerry Polesel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9381-1520)
- Elvira Palumbo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2844-2452)
- Massimo Rinaldo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8609-1182)
- Sara Vitale (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7198-3030)
- Francesca Catalano
- Denise Giannascoli
Institutions
- University of Verona (IT)
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT)
- University of Catania (IT)
- Institute of Food Science (IT)
- Ospedale San Giovanni Bosco (IT)
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (IT)
- Ospedale Cannizzaro (IT)
- Ospedale Monaldi (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale" (IT)
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (IT)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
- Fondazione Vincenzo Pansadoro (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Published
- 2025-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262010030
- Primary Topic
- Vitamin D Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Ministero della Salute