Review of vit D and prostate Cancer 2009
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2009) 12, 215–226; doi:10.1038/pcan.2009.7; published online 7 April 2009
Vitamin D and prostate cancer risk: a review of the epidemiological literature
D Gupta1, C A Lammersfeld1, K Trukova1 and C G Lis1
1Cancer Treatment Centers of America® at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, Zion, IL, USA
Correspondence: Dr D Gupta, Cancer Treatment Centers of America®, Operations Center, Office of Research, 2610 Sheridan Road, Zion, IL 60099, USA. E-mail: gupta_digant@yahoo.com
Received 28 January 2009; Accepted 18 February 2009; Published online 7 April 2009.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Prostate cells contain vitamin D receptors as well as enzymes necessary for vitamin D metabolism. Vitamin D metabolites have an antiproliferative and a pro-differentiating effect on prostate cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. As a result, there has been an emerging interest in the potential role of vitamin D in the etiology of prostate cancer. This review summarizes all available epidemiological literature on the association between dietary vitamin D, circulating levels of vitamin D and sunlight exposure in relation to prostate cancer risk. To place these studies in context, we also provide some background information on vitamin D, such as its dietary sources, metabolism, optimal levels, hypovitaminosis and relationship with the prostate.