Prevalence of serum vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in cancer: Review of the epidemiological literature

Abstract

Abstract. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be associated with a variety of cancers, including prostate, multiple myeloma, colorectal and breast cancer. Several studies have shown vitamin D levels to have an inverse relation with cancer mortality, while others have considered it a potential risk factor. Vitamin D is believed to influence cancer prevalence, risk and survival; hence the need to assess vitamin D levels in cancer. Although numerous studies have been conducted to demonstrate vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for cancer, relatively few have studied its prevalence. Moreover, studies estimating prevalence differ from each other, with respect to study population, sample size, study design, definition of vitamin D deficiency used and method of vitamin D assessment (with most studies limited to one particular type of cancer with relatively small sample sizes). Therefore, we qualitatively reviewed the epidemiological evidence in the oncology literature on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency as measured by serum vitamin D concentrations.

Impact of Vitamin D on the Clinical Outcome of Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Report on a Series from a Single Institute

“…In 2014, a meta-analysis by Chowdhury et al [39] observed a 16% increase in mortality for every decline of 10 ng/mL in the serum vitD levels. Moreover, among cancer patients, a high prevalence (about 70%) of vitD deficiency has been reported [40] , lower in outpatients (48%) than inpatients (up to 97.5%) [41][42] . Accordingly, in our study, 68% of NEN patients had vitD deficiency, but in contrast to the studies that demonstrated an inverse correlation between vitD levels and colorectal carcinoma staging [43][44] , in this study no significant correlation with vitD levels and the staging or grading of the disease was found.…”

The Role of Bioactive Dietary Components in Modulating miRNA Expression in Colorectal Cancer

“…Vitamin D exerts a protective role in colorectal cancer as shown by epidemiological studies, which link low vitamin D diet or circulating level of calcidiol (25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 ) with increased risk of colorectal cancer [141,142]. Mechanistic studies have shown that vitamin D (1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) can antagonize Wnt signaling in human colon cancer cells in multiple ways [143] and influences inflammatory pathways involved in cancer progression such as COX-2 and NF-κB [144].…”

Levels of Serum 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D in Benign and Malignant Breast Masses

“…Receptors of vitamin D exist in various organs, including the breast. Relation of breast cancer risk and vitamin D status has been defined in many studies, but the true association is still not understood and needs further research (Chlebowski, 2011;Gupta et al, 2011;Jacobs et al, 2011;Yao et al, 2011;Lopes et al, 2012;Shao et al, 2012).…”

“…Conversion to the main serum metabolite, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), is completed mainly in the liver, which is then further hydroxalated in the kidney to produce 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D. The best measurement for assessing vitamin D status is plasma level of 25(OH)D (Eliassen et al, 2011;Gupta et al, 2011;Women's Hospital for breast cancer screening or any breast complaint, clinical breast examination was done for all women. Mammography was carried out for women above 40 years of age; ultrasonography was undertaken as indicated by the radiologist in this age group, and in all patients less than 40 years of age.…”