Comparison of bone mineral density in young patients with breast cancer and healthy women

• Published in: Journal of analytical research in clinical medicine 2014-05, Vol.2 (2), p.47-52
• Main Authors: Sousan Kolahi, Hamid Noshad, Jamal Eivazi Ziaei, Alireza Nikanfar, Parvin Shakori Partovi, Iraj Asvadi Kermani, Farid Panahi, Nassim Mahmoudzade
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bone Density; Breast Cancer; risk factors
• ISSN: 2345-4970
• DOI: 10.5681/jarcm.2014.008

BACKGROUND: Almost 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer during their lifetime. Several risk factors were identified; however, 70% of females with breast cancer have no risk factors. Many risk factors are associated with sex steroid hormones. Some studies have been focused on identification of the indices of cumulative exposures to estrogen during the patients’ life. One of these indicators is bone mineral density (BMD). Our aim was the comparison of BMD in young patients with and without breast cancer, and finding a relationship between breast cancer and bone density. METHODS: In this case-control study, 120 people were enrolled; 40 patients with breast cancer and 80 normal healthy persons as control group. Measurement of BMD was performed in both groups and compared. RESULTS: Both groups were matched in age, weight, age at menarche, age at first marriage and first pregnancy, number of pregnancies over 32 weeks and lactation period, and taking supplemental calcium and vitamin D. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of estrogen intake, family history of breast cancer, and history of breast masses (P = 0.03, P = 0.03, P ≤ 0.01, respectively). A significant difference was found between BMD, bone mineral content (BMC), and t-scores of lumbar spine of the two groups; they were higher in the control group (P = 0.08, P ≤ 0.01, P = 0.06, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that bone mineral density of young patients with breast cancer is not higher than normal similar age females; thus, BMD is not directly a risk factor for breast cancer.