Associations between cholecalciferol supplementation and self-reported symptoms among women with metastatic breast cancer and Vitamin D deficiency: A Pilot study

Patricia Maureen Sheean*, Patricia Robinson, Mary Beth Bartolotta, Cara Joyce, William Adams, Sue Penckofer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess the potential effect of cholecalciferol supplementation to reduce symptom burden for women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). SAMPLE & SETTING: 11 clinically stable women with estrogen receptor-positive MBC were recruited from a single cancer center for this phase 1, nonrandomized study (NCT02186015). METHODS & VARIABLES: Women with insufficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels qualified to receive high-dose repletion therapy. Clinical and questionnaire data on common symptoms and quality of life were obtained prior to and following supplementation. RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D increased significantly pre- versus postintervention. Trends for improvements in endocrine symptoms, bone pain, and fatigue were observed following the intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Women achieved normal serum 25(OH)D levels after eight weeks of supplementation and reported reduced symptom burden. Vitamin D may be a low-cost supportive care therapy; however, future studies should be considered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)352-360
Number of pages9
JournalOncology nursing forum
Volume48
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2021

Funding

in the Department of Applied Health Science in the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Patricia Robinson, MD, is an associate professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology in the Stritch School of Medicine, the director of the Cancer Survivorship Program, and an assistant dean in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Mary Beth Bartolotta, RN, BSN, is a research nurse team lead in the Cardinal Bernadin Cancer Center, Cara Joyce, PhD, MS, is the director of the biostatistics core in the Department of Health Informatics and Data Science, William Adams, PhD, is an assistant professor of medical education and public health sciences, and Sue Penckofer, PhD, RN, FAAN, is an associate dean for the Graduate School and a professor in the School of Nursing, all at Loyola University Chicago in Illinois. Sheean can be reached at psheean1@ luc.edu, with copy to [email protected]. (Submitted October 2020. Accepted January 8, 2021.) This study was supported by startup funds granted by the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University Chicago in Maywood, Illinois.

Keywords

  • Cholecalciferol
  • Metastatic breast cancer
  • Pilot study
  • Vitamin D

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology(nursing)

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