LB117 - DIETARY CALCIUM INTAKE AND RISK OF BREAST CANCER: A META-ANALYSIS STUDY

LB117

DIETARY CALCIUM INTAKE AND RISK OF BREAST CANCER: A META-ANALYSIS STUDY

S. Fathi^1,*, S. agharloo²

¹ahwaz, ahwaz university , iran, ²isfahan, isfahan university, isfahan, Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Rationale: Breast cancer remains one of the most fatal cancers affecting women worldwide. Among the many factors that contribute to its development, dietary habits have gained considerable attention. Calcium, commonly recognized for its essential role in bone maintenance, is also thought to offer protective benefits against certain cancers. Despite this, research findings on the connection between calcium consumption and breast cancer risk have been mixed. To address these inconsistencies, this meta-analysis focuses on synthesizing data from cohort studies to provide clearer insight into the association. The aim of this study is to assess if there is an association between calcium intake and breast cancer risk, and to provide recommendations grounded in evidence for calcium consumption to help prevent breast cancer

Methods: In March 2025, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus to find cohort studies exploring the link between calcium intake and breast cancer risk. Studies included in the analysis reported relative risks (RR) or hazard ratios (HR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Relevant data were extracted, and the quality of each study was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). To assess variability among studies, the I² statistic was employed, while potential publication bias was examined through funnel plots and formal statistical tests. Additionally, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were carried out to explore possible sources of heterogeneity. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA software.

Results: The final meta-analysis comprised 14 cohort studies, including a total of 2,132,353 participants and 66,242 breast cancer cases. The pooled relative risk (RR) comparing the highest to the lowest calcium intake was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93–0.99, P = 0.013), indicating a modest reduction in risk. Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed an inverse association between calcium consumption and breast cancer risk in both premenopausal women (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.74–0.99, P = 0.036) and postmenopausal women (RR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.85–0.99, P = 0.026).

The final evaluation incorporated 14 cohort studies involving over 2.1 million participants and more than 66,000 breast cancer cases. The aggregated results indicated that individuals with the highest calcium intake had a 4% lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those with the lowest intake (RR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93–0.99; P = 0.013). Moreover, subgroup analyses demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between calcium consumption and breast cancer risk in both premenopausal (RR = 0.86) and postmenopausal women (RR = 0.92).

Conclusion: Calcium intake was found to significantly lower the risk of developing breast cancer, with the analysis revealing an overall 4% reduction in breast cancer incidence among those with higher calcium consumption compared to those with lower intake. This suggests that calcium may play a protective role in reducing the likelihood of breast cancer development

Disclosure of Interest: None declared