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. 2024 Oct 1;16(10):e70593.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.70593. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Comparative Analysis of Vitamin D, Folic Acid, and Trace Minerals Levels in Various Stages of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer

Vemuri Helena  1 , Suresh Arumugam  2 , Natrajan Muninathan  2 , Kuppusamy Baskaran  2 , Amena Tasneem  3
Affiliations

Comparative Analysis of Vitamin D, Folic Acid, and Trace Minerals Levels in Various Stages of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer

Vemuri Helena et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background: Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed subtypes of breast cancer, representing the majority of breast cancer cases. This study investigates the levels of vitamin D, folic acid, and antioxidant minerals (zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg)) in IDC patients across different disease stages to explore their potential roles in disease progression.

Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 150 female patients with IDC, aged between 30 and 67 years (51 ± 15.5 years). Blood samples were collected to measure levels of vitamin D, folic acid, Cu, Mg, and Zn. Patients were categorized into Stage 1 to Stage 4 of cancer. Variations in nutrient levels across these stages were statistically assessed using ANOVA and post-hoc tests.

Results: The study results revealed varying levels of key nutrients across different stages of the disease. Vitamin D levels averaged 17.7 ng/mL, with higher concentrations in early-stage patients, indicating a possible correlation with disease severity. Folic acid levels had a mean of 12.2 ng/mL, showing a decline in later stages, potentially linking it to cancer progression. Copper levels averaged 161.3μg/dL, peaking at 170μg/dL in Stage 3, suggesting a connection with cancer aggressiveness. Magnesium levels, with an average of 1.4 mg/dL, dropped notably to 0.6 mg/dL by Stage 4, highlighting its possible involvement in disease progression. Zinc levels averaged 69.4 μg/dL, with a significant decrease in advanced stages, emphasizing its importance for immune function and cellular health.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates significant variations in the levels of vitamin D, folic acid, and antioxidant minerals across different stages of IDC. These nutrients may influence cancer progression, underscoring the potential benefits of nutritional assessments and interventions in managing IDC.

Keywords: antioxidant minerals; cancer progression; copper; immune function; invasive ductal breast cancer; magnesium; nutrient levels; vitamin d; zinc.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee of Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences issued approval (012/SIMS/Research/2022). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before their inclusion in the study. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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