Vitamin D and Cancer Mortality – review Jan 2013

Vitamin D and Cancer Mortality: Systematic Review of Prospective Epidemiological Studies

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Volume 13 Issue 1 pp.107-117 (11)
Stefan Pilz, Katharina Kienreich, Andreas Tomaschitz, Eberhard Ritz, Elisabeth Lerchbaum, Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch, Veronika Matzi, Joerg Lindenmann, Winfried Marz, Sara Gandini, Jacqueline M. Dekker

Accumulating evidence from experimental and epidemiological studies suggests that vitamin D deficiency might be a causal risk factor for cancer and therewith associated mortality. We performed a systematic review in Medline up to February 2012 to identify prospective studies on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and cancer mortality as well as on 25(OH)D and survival in cancer patients. Our search retrieved 13 studies on cancer-specific mortality and 20 studies on overall mortality in cancer patients. Data on 25(OH)D and cancer mortality were mainly derived from general populations. The results were inconsistent and yielded either no, inverse or positive associations. By contrast, the majority of studies in cancer patients showed that patients with higher 25(OH)D levels had a decreased risk of mortality. This relationship was particularly evident in cohorts of colorectal cancer patients. In contrast, there was no indication for increased mortality risk with higher vitamin D levels in any cancer cohort. In conclusion, the relationship of vitamin D status and cancer specific mortality is still unclear and warrants further studies. Our results provide a strong rationale to perform prospective randomized controlled studies to document a potential effect of vitamin D supplementation on survival in cancer patients.

Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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See also Vitamin D Life

• Vitamin D still appears to reduce Cancer Mortality – Systematic Review Oct 2012
• Death of women from cancer 24 percent less likely if 20 ng more vitamin D – meta-analysis Sept 2013
• Low levels of vitamin D associated with all cause mortality – Oct 2012
• Death rate 2X higher at age 60 if low vitamin D - 180,000 in Israel May 2012
• Death rate reduced 8 percent for 8 nanogram more vitamin D – meta-analysis Feb 2012
• 40 ng Vitamin D perhaps optimal for reduced mortality – Meta-analysis Jan 2012
• Dr. Grant on vitamin D and mortality in Vitamin D Life
• Should increase life expectancy by 2 years if double vitamin D levels – July 2011 Dr. Grant
• Mortality reduced 1 % for every nanogram increase in vitamin D – Feb 2012
• All items in Mortality and vitamin D 207 items