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Seasonal variations in vitamin D levels in melanoma patients: a single‐centre prospective pilot comparative study
Author(s) -
Failla V.,
Cavalier E.,
El Hayderi L.,
Paurobally D.,
Chapelle J.P.,
Dezfoulian B.,
Nikkels A.F.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04087.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , prospective cohort study
Background More than 90% of vitamin D synthesis is dependent on UV exposure. Photosensitive disorders such as lupus erythematosus, protoporphyria and xeroderma require strict sun avoidance, and vitamin D deficiency has been demonstrated in these patients. Melanoma patients are also instructed to avoid sun exposure and may hence be expected to be vitamin D deficient. Materials and methods Winter and summer vitamin D levels were compared in a group of melanoma patients ( n = 61) and age‐ and phototype‐matched controls ( n = 53) without photosensitive disorders. Results Oral supplementary vitamin D intake was reported in 32.7% of the melanoma patients and in 15.1% in the control group. Despite oral supplementation, only 25% of the melanoma patients and the controls presented with vitamin D levels of 30 ng/mL or higher. In non‐supplemented subjects in the melanoma and control groups, respectively, mean winter vitamin D levels were below the recommended threshold at 12.6 ng/mL vs. 13.2 ng/mL, respectively, but not statistically different. These values increased significantly in both groups during the summer to 24.6 and 23.8 ng/mL respectively. Conclusion Unexpected, significant increases in vitamin D levels were seen in melanoma patients during summer, suggesting non‐adherence with photoprotective measures and reflecting a heliophilic behaviour. Vitamin D supplementation is recommended in melanoma patients during both winter and summer.