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High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in patients with head and neck cancer at diagnosis
Author(s) -
Orell–Kotikangas Helena,
Schwab Ursula,
Österlund Pia,
Saarilahti Kauko,
Mäkitie Outi,
Mäkitie Antti A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21954
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin d deficiency , head and neck cancer , gastroenterology , cancer , prospective cohort study , vitamin , hypovitaminosis , head and neck , cohort , endocrinology , surgery
Background Low serum levels of vitamin D, measured as serum 25‐hydroxy‐vitamin D (S‐25‐OHD), have been observed in several cancers. Methods Sixty‐five adult patients with head and neck cancer, 50 men, median age 61 years (range, 33–77 years), were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Concentrations of S‐25‐OHD and plasma calcium (Ca) and phosphate (Pi) were measured before cancer treatment. Results The mean S‐25‐OHD was 42.0 (SD 22) nmol/L. Hypovitaminosis D (37.5–50 nmol/L) was found in 20% of the patients and vitamin D deficiency (<37.5 nmol/L) in 45% of the patients. No seasonal variation was seen. Subnormal plasma Ca and Pi levels were found in 11% and 9% of the patients, respectively. Conclusion Subnormal vitamin D levels were found in a significant proportion of the patients. Because vitamin D deficiency may pose these patients to increased risk of therapy‐related morbidity, special attention should be paid to correction of this nutritional deficiency. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012