Schömann-Finck M, Reichrath J. Umbrella Review on the Relationship between Vitamin D Levels and Cancer.
Nutrients 2024;
16:2720. [PMID:
39203855 PMCID:
PMC11356988 DOI:
10.3390/nu16162720]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cancer is a growing public health problem and cancer is linked to vitamin D via several mechanisms. Recent umbrella reviews on the extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D did not turn their attention to cancer. Accordingly, an overview of the current state of research is needed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An umbrella review was conducted to provide an overview of systematic reviews on the association between vitamin D and incidence or mortality of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer.
RESULTS
Inverse correlations were found between the vitamin D level (measured by circulating 25(OH)D) and mortality for all five types of cancer. For breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer, there are also hints of a lower incidence due to higher 25(OH)D levels.
CONCLUSION
As most reviews include observational studies, conclusions on causality cannot be made. Methodological differences between the included reviews and different study designs in the individual studies lead to methodological problems. Despite these problems, the review shows inverse correlations between 25(OH)D levels and mortality, and mostly inverse correlations between 25(OH)D levels and incidence.
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