Obesity has reached an epidemic level in the United States. A number of epidemiological studies have established obesity as a critical risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer (post-BC), whereas a reverse association holds prior to menopause. A significant scientific gap exists in understanding the mechanism(s) underpinning this epidemiological phenomenon, particularly the reverse association between obesity and premenopausal breast cancer (pre-BC). This study aimed to understand how folate metabolism and DNA methylation informs the association between obesity and pre-BC. Fifty normal breast tissue samples were collected from premenopausal women who underwent reduction mammoplasty. We developed and measured the breast tissue folate by a Lactobacillus Casei microbiological assay, and the DNA methylation of LINE-1, a biomarker of genome-wide methylation, and the promoter methylation and gene expression of SFRP1, a tumor suppressor, were measured by pyrosequencing and real-time PCR. We found a high BMI is associated with increased folate level in the mammary tissue, with an increase of 2.65 ng/g of folate per every 5-unit increase of BMI (p < 0.05). The LINE-1 DNA methylation was significantly associated with BMI (p < 0.05), and marginally associated with folate concentration (p = 0.087). For the 8 CpG sites analyzed in the promoter region of the SFRP1 gene, no associations were observed for either BMI or tissue folate (p > 0.05), although a high expression of SFRP1 was observed in subjects with high BMI or high folate (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that, in premenopausal women, obesity is associated with an increased mammary folate status, genome-wide DNA methylation and SFRP1 gene expression, indicating that the improved folate and epigenetic status is potentially responsible for the reverse association between obesity and pre-BC. More studies are warranted to further understand how obesity mediates pre-BC via altering folate metabolism and DNA methylation.

Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação de vitamina D nos parâmetros clínicos, laboratoriais, atividade da doença, e fadiga em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso de início juvenil (LESj). Métodos: Este trabalho foi um estudo randomizado, duplo-cego, controlado por placebo por um período de 24 semanas. Quarenta pacientes foram randomizadas (1:1) para receber colecalciferol via oral 50.000 UI / semana (LESj-VITD) ou placebo (LESj-PL). A terapêutica destes pacientes foi mantida estável durante este período. As concentrações séricas de 25- hidroxivitamina D (25OHD) foram medidas por radioimunoensaio. A atividade da doença foi avaliada por meio do Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) e pelo European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM). Fadiga foi avaliada usando a Kids Fatigue Severity Scale (K-FSS). Resultados: No início do estudo, os grupos foram semelhantes em relação à idade, índice de massa corporal, envolvimento de órgãos, dose de glicocorticoide, uso de drogas imunossupressoras, SLEDAI, ECLAM, K-FSS e concentrações séricas de 25OHD. Após 24 semanas, as concentrações séricas de 25OHD foram maiores no grupo LESj-VITD que no LESj-PL [(31,3 (8,7) vs. 16,5 (5,8), p < 0,001)]. Ao fim da intervenção, uma melhoria significativa no SLEDAI [Delta= 0 (- 4 - 5)_ vs. 1 (-12 - 6) p =0,011] e no ECLAM [Delta = 0 (-2 -1) vs. 0 (-6 - 3) p=0,006], foi observado no grupo LESj- VITD em comparação com o LESj-PL. Em relação à avaliação de fadiga, uma redução da fadiga relacionada com a vida social foi encontrada no grupo LESj-VITD em comparação com o grupo LESj-PL (p = 0,008). A suplementação de colecalciferol foi bem tolerada sem eventos adversos graves. Conclusões: Este estudo sugere que a suplementação com colecalciferol por 24 semanas é eficaz em diminuir a atividade da doença e melhorar a fadiga em pacientes com LESj / Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on disease activity and fatigue in Juvenile-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (JoSLE). Methods: This study was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 24-week trial. Forty JoSLE patients were randomized (1:1) to receive oral cholecalciferol 50,000 IU/week (JoSLE-VitD) or placebo (JoSLE-PL). Medications remained stable throughout the study. Serum levels of 25OHD were measured using radioimmunoassay. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM). Fatigue was assessed using the Kids Fatigue Severity Scale (K-FSS). Results: At baseline, groups were similar regarding, age, body mass index, organ involvement, glucocorticoid dose, use of immunosuppressive drugs, SLEDAI, ECLAM, K-FSS and levels of 25OHD. After 24 weeks, the mean level of 25OHD was higher in the JoSLE-VitD group than in the JoSLE-PL [(31,3 (8,7) vs. 16,5 (5,8), p < 0,001)]. At the end of intervention, a significant improvement in SLEDAI [delta= 0 (- 4 - 5)_ vs. 1 (-12 - 6) p =0,011] and in ECLAM [delta = 0 (-2 -1) vs. 0 (-6 - 3) p=0,006] was observed in the JoSLE-VitD group compared to the JoSLE-PL. Regarding fatigue evaluation, a reduction of fatigue related to social life score was found in the JoSLE-VitD group compared to the JoSLE-PL group (p=0.008). Cholecalciferol was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Conclusion: This study suggests that cholecalciferol supplementation for 24 weeks is effective in decreasing disease activity and improving fatigue in JoSLE patients

Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação de vitamina D nos parâmetros clínicos, laboratoriais, atividade da doença, e fadiga em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso de início juvenil (LESj). Métodos: Este trabalho foi um estudo randomizado, duplo-cego, controlado por placebo por um período de 24 semanas. Quarenta pacientes foram randomizadas (1:1) para receber colecalciferol via oral 50.000 UI / semana (LESj-VITD) ou placebo (LESj-PL). A terapêutica destes pacientes foi mantida estável durante este período. As concentrações séricas de 25- hidroxivitamina D (25OHD) foram medidas por radioimunoensaio. A atividade da doença foi avaliada por meio do Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) e pelo European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM). Fadiga foi avaliada usando a Kids Fatigue Severity Scale (K-FSS). Resultados: No início do estudo, os grupos foram semelhantes em relação à idade, índice de massa corporal, envolvimento de órgãos, dose de glicocorticoide, uso de drogas imunossupressoras, SLEDAI, ECLAM, K-FSS e concentrações séricas de 25OHD. Após 24 semanas, as concentrações séricas de 25OHD foram maiores no grupo LESj-VITD que no LESj-PL [(31,3 (8,7) vs. 16,5 (5,8), p < 0,001)]. Ao fim da intervenção, uma melhoria significativa no SLEDAI [Delta= 0 (- 4 - 5)_ vs. 1 (-12 - 6) p =0,011] e no ECLAM [Delta = 0 (-2 -1) vs. 0 (-6 - 3) p=0,006], foi observado no grupo LESj- VITD em comparação com o LESj-PL. Em relação à avaliação de fadiga, uma redução da fadiga relacionada com a vida social foi encontrada no grupo LESj-VITD em comparação com o grupo LESj-PL (p = 0,008). A suplementação de colecalciferol foi bem tolerada sem eventos adversos graves. Conclusões: Este estudo sugere que a suplementação com colecalciferol por 24 semanas é eficaz em diminuir a atividade da doença e melhorar a fadiga em pacientes com LESj / Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on disease activity and fatigue in Juvenile-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (JoSLE). Methods: This study was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 24-week trial. Forty JoSLE patients were randomized (1:1) to receive oral cholecalciferol 50,000 IU/week (JoSLE-VitD) or placebo (JoSLE-PL). Medications remained stable throughout the study. Serum levels of 25OHD were measured using radioimmunoassay. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM). Fatigue was assessed using the Kids Fatigue Severity Scale (K-FSS). Results: At baseline, groups were similar regarding, age, body mass index, organ involvement, glucocorticoid dose, use of immunosuppressive drugs, SLEDAI, ECLAM, K-FSS and levels of 25OHD. After 24 weeks, the mean level of 25OHD was higher in the JoSLE-VitD group than in the JoSLE-PL [(31,3 (8,7) vs. 16,5 (5,8), p < 0,001)]. At the end of intervention, a significant improvement in SLEDAI [delta= 0 (- 4 - 5)_ vs. 1 (-12 - 6) p =0,011] and in ECLAM [delta = 0 (-2 -1) vs. 0 (-6 - 3) p=0,006] was observed in the JoSLE-VitD group compared to the JoSLE-PL. Regarding fatigue evaluation, a reduction of fatigue related to social life score was found in the JoSLE-VitD group compared to the JoSLE-PL group (p=0.008). Cholecalciferol was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Conclusion: This study suggests that cholecalciferol supplementation for 24 weeks is effective in decreasing disease activity and improving fatigue in JoSLE patients