Women with low vitamin D levels may face a more painful recovery after breast cancer surgery and could require significantly more opioid medication afterward, according to research published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.
The findings suggest that breast cancer patients with vitamin D deficiency (below 30 nmol/L) might benefit from taking vitamin D supplements before undergoing a radical mastectomy.
Researchers say growing evidence points to vitamin D playing an important role in how the body senses and regulates pain. Scientists believe this may be connected to the vitamin's anti inflammatory properties and its effects on the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency is also frequently seen in people with breast cancer.
Study Examined Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery
To explore the connection, researchers carried out a prospective observational study at Fayoum University Hospital in Egypt between September 2024 and April 2025.
