BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Breast cancer patients with lower levels of vitamin D are more likely to have the disease spread or die from it than those with higher levels of the substance, media reported Monday quoting a Canadian study.

    The study, to be presented at an upcoming meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, shows women with vitamin D deficiency at the time of diagnosis with breast cancer are 94 percent more likely to have their cancer metastasize and are 73 percent more likely to die within the next 10 years than those who had adequate levels.

    The findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency is very common in women with breast cancer.

    This is the first time when the disease's progression has been linked to vitamin D, according to the study leader Doctor Pamela Goodwin of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

    The study shows only 24 percent of breast cancer patients had adequate levels of vitamin D when they were diagnosed with the tumor.

    The research involved the careful observation of 512 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1989 and 1995. All participants gave blood samples and also filled out a questionnaire on their diet. They were kept under observation for a time-period of 12 years.

    Women who had low vitamin D were more likely to have developed breast cancer prior to reaching menopause and had more aggressive cancer, had higher body mass index, and had higher insulin levels, the researchers found.

    Nevertheless, the evidence isn't strong enough to suggest women with breast cancer take more of the vitamin.

    "It's premature to tell all women diagnosed with breast cancer that they should take vitamin D supplements over and above what's recommended for bone health," said Goodwin.

    "If you're a woman with breast cancer, it's probably worthwhile having vitamin D levels checked. If they're deficient, they should take more to get it in the range that we think is beneficial."

    (Agencies)