What vitamin deficiency may disproportionately affect African-American women in relation to fibroids?

The connection between vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of fibroids is particularly significant for African-American women. This group is known to be at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency due to various factors, including skin pigmentation, which affects the synthesis of vitamin D from sunlight. Darker skin contains more melanin, which can reduce the capability of the skin to produce vitamin D when exposed to UV rays.

Research has indicated that lower levels of vitamin D may contribute to the development of uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the uterus that can cause symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth, immune function, and inflammation, all of which could influence the growth and development of fibroids. This makes it important to monitor and potentially supplement vitamin D levels, especially in populations at higher risk of deficiency.

In contrast, the other vitamins listed do not have a strong established link to fibroid development or prevalence in the same way that vitamin D does. While vitamins A, C, and E are important for overall health and have their own roles in the body, evidence supporting their specific connection to fibroid risk in African-American women is less pronounced compared to that of vitamin D