Open AccessClinical outcomes of vitamin D deficiency and supplementation in cancer patients
Author(s) -
Teleni Laisa,
Baker Jacqueline,
Koczwara Bogda,
Kimlin Michael G,
Walpole Euan,
Tsai Kathy,
Isenring Elizabeth A
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
nutrition reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.958
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1753-4887
pISSN - 0029-6643
DOI - 10.1111/nure.12047
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin d deficiency , cholecalciferol , cancer , calcifediol , vitamin , physiology , endocrinology
Results of recent studies suggest that circulating levels of vitamin D may play an important role in cancer‐specific outcomes. The present systematic review was undertaken to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency ( < 25 nmol/L) and insufficiency (25–50 nmol/L) in cancer patients and to evaluate the association between circulating calcidiol (the indicator of vitamin D status) and clinical outcomes. A systematic search of original, peer‐reviewed studies on calcidiol at cancer diagnosis, and throughout treatment and survival, was conducted yielding 4,706 studies. A total of 37 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Reported mean blood calcidiol levels ranged from 24.7 to 87.4 nmol/L, with up to 31% of patients identified as deficient and 67% as insufficient. The efficacy of cholecalciferol supplementation for raising the concentration of circulating calcidiol is unclear; standard supplement regimens of < 1,000 IU D 3 /day may not be sufficient to maintain adequate concentrations or prevent decreasing calcidiol. Dose‐response studies linking vitamin D status to musculoskeletal and survival outcomes in cancer patients are lacking.