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Cancer patients have low vitamin D (Pediatric in this case) - Dec 2024

Do cancer patients have low levels of vitamin D? asked Perplexity AI Jan 2025

Cancer patients commonly have vitamin D deficiency, with multiple studies showing significantly high prevalence rates:
Prevalence Rates

  • 87.3% of cancer patients have vitamin D deficiency (levels below 20 ng/mL)  1
  • 88% of palliative care cancer patients show low vitamin D levels  2
  • 72% of general cancer patients are vitamin D deficient  11
  • 75.6% of breast cancer survivors have insufficient vitamin D levels  12

Key Findings
Stage-Specific Impact
Stage 4 cancer patients show particularly severe deficiency, with 93.2% having vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL and 73% below 10 ng/mL  [|PDF] Comparison of Vitamin D Levels Between Healthy Individuals and ..."  1
Cancer-Specific Patterns

  • Breast cancer patients show deficiency rates between 62-87%, with triple-negative breast cancer patients having particularly high rates  12
  • Melanoma patients who avoid sun exposure are three times more likely to be vitamin D deficient than healthy individuals  5

Contributing Factors
Several factors contribute to vitamin D deficiency in cancer patients:

  • Reduced sun exposure due to illness and treatment
  • Chemotherapy-induced photosensitivity
  • Poor appetite and reduced dietary intake
  • Potential absorption issues  10

Clinical Significance
Low vitamin D levels in cancer patients are associated with:

  • Poorer survival rates
  • Increased tumor progression
  • Higher risk of metastasis
  • Reduced quality of life  13

This widespread deficiency suggests that monitoring and potentially supplementing vitamin D levels may be an important aspect of cancer care  7

Are Pediatric Cancer Patients a Risk Group for Vitamin D Deficiency? A Systematic Review - Dec 2024

Cancers 2024, 16(24), 4201; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16244201
by Alexandru Alexandru 1ORCID,Cristiana-Smaranda Ivan 1ORCID,Sonia Tanasescu 2,*,Licina Andrada Oprisoni 2,Tiberiu-Liviu Dragomir 3,Norberth-Istvan Varga 4ORCID,Diana Mateescu 4ORCID,Mircea Diaconu 5,Madalin-Marius Margan 6ORCID andEstera Boeriu 2

Simple Summary
Vitamin D plays a vital role in supporting healthy growth and development. Deficiency in this nutrient has been associated with various health problems, including an increased susceptibility to infections and other complications, particularly in vulnerable populations. Pediatric cancer patients are at a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency due to combined effects of illness, treatments, days of hospitalization, and ongoing developmental needs. This study reviewed the medical literature to understand how common vitamin D deficiency is in this type of patient and its potential impact on treatment outcomes, trying to conclude whether they are a risk group for vitamin D impairment. These findings highlight the importance of checking vitamin D levels at diagnosis and throughout treatment, alongside providing supplements when needed, to support better treatment responses and overall health in pediatric oncology patients.

Abstract
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognized as a global health concern, with potential implications for cancer development and progression. This systematic review investigated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pediatric cancer patients and its potential impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to identify the relevant studies published between 2009 and July 2024. Studies were included if they assessed vitamin D status in pediatric cancer patients and reported on the clinical outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers.

Results: The review included 20 original articles encompassing a diverse pediatric population with various cancer types. A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed across the studies. Deficiency was associated with older age and lower socioeconomic status. Several studies reported associations between vitamin D deficiency and the increased risk of infection, poorer treatment response, and decreased survival.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in pediatric cancer patients and may negatively impact clinical outcomes. Routine screening for vitamin D deficiency and personalized supplementation strategies should be considered in this population. Further research is needed to establish optimal vitamin D management protocols and evaluate the long-term benefits of vitamin D repletion in pediatric oncology.
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Reminder: Vitamin D has been proven to prevent various cancers

58+ VitaminDWiki pages have both PREVENT and CANCER in the title
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773+ VitaminDWiki pages have both "VITAMIN D" and CANCER in the title

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Items found: 787
Title Modified
Cancer and low vitamin D – which causes which – Nov 2013 07 Jan, 2014
Vitamin D looks promising for head and neck squamous cell cancers – Aug 2013 07 Jan, 2014
Free vitamin D (VDR) may be more important than total for bladder cancer – March 2013 06 Jan, 2014
Children with Cancer were 3X more likely to be vitamin D deficient – July 2013 05 Jan, 2014
Skin cancer increases other cancers (low-vitamin D) – Dec 2013 19 Dec, 2013
Colon cancer 23 percent less likely if vitamin D levels higher than 30 ng – Dec 2013 18 Dec, 2013
The Protective Role of Vitamin D Signaling in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer - Nov 2013 14 Dec, 2013
Mayo clinic starting Cancer RCT using grossly inadequate 2,000 IU of vitamin D – Sept 2013 04 Dec, 2013
Too much UVB: skin cancer, too little UVB: other cancers due to low vitamin D – April 2012 18 Nov, 2013
Vitamin D improves Cancer survival – Nov 2013 11 Nov, 2013
Sunlight Vitamin D and Skin Cancer – Jan 2013 10 Nov, 2013
Skin cancer risk and vitamin D from sun both decrease with darker skin – March 2013 10 Nov, 2013
If have BRCA1 breast cancer gene, instead of double mastectomy, get 40ng of vitamin D – Jan 2013 09 Nov, 2013
Prostate Cancer increased melanoma rate by 2X (vitamin D not mentioned) Nov 2013 09 Nov, 2013
Cancer Survival is poor if vitamin D is less than 20ng – review Nov 2013 07 Nov, 2013
Cancer Survival is poor if vitamin D is less than 20ng (every study showed benefit)– review Nov 2013 06 Nov, 2013
National Cancer Institute noticing Vitamin D - Oct 2013 29 Oct, 2013
Breast Cancer post menopause down 12 percent for every 5 ng of vitamin D – meta-analysis May 2013 28 Oct, 2013
30 percent reduced chance of breast cancer death if take tiny amount of vitamin D (one-a-day) – Oct 2013 27 Oct, 2013
Breast cancer increasing in India (perhaps due to lowering vitamin D) – Oct 2013 20 Oct, 2013
Shift work increases breast cancer risk by 22 percent (Vitamin D is 1 of 5 possible ways) – Oct 2013 12 Oct, 2013
Vitamin d - pivotal nutraceutical in the regulation of cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. – 2013 07 Oct, 2013
Molecular Link between Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention – Oct 2013 02 Oct, 2013
Is there an optimal level of vitamin D to prevent cancer – Sept 2010 30 Sep, 2013
Review of cancer and supplements includes vitamin D – Sept 2013 25 Sep, 2013
Vitamin D still appears to reduce Cancer Mortality – Systematic Review Oct 2012 17 Sep, 2013
Vitamin D and Cancer Mortality – review Jan 2013 17 Sep, 2013
Even small increases in vitamin D decreased risk of pancreatic cancer – Nov 2011 10 Sep, 2013
Lung cancer 63 percent less likely if take more than 800 IU of vitamin D and never smoke – Oct 2013 24 Aug, 2013
Cancer of glands (Adenocarcinoma) associated with 2X lower vitamin D levels – Aug 2013 22 Aug, 2013
Vitamin D protects against lung cancer unless there is excess vitamin A – July 2012 22 Aug, 2013
Probably need more than 1000 IU of vitamin D to prevent cancer – meta-analysis Aug 2013 20 Aug, 2013
Head and neck cancer occurrence and deaths associated with low vitamin D – Aug 2011 14 Aug, 2013
Vitamin D, Sunlight and Cancer Connection – Holick Jan 2013 11 Aug, 2013
Pancreatic Cancer association with PRKCA gene and the active form of vitamin D – Nov 2012 10 Aug, 2013
Vitamin D and Breast Cancer: Emerging Concepts - June 2013 22 Jul, 2013
Vitamin D increasingly associated with inflammation such as RA, TB, Lupus, and cancer – March 2013 13 Jul, 2013
Vitamin D related genes associated with lethal prostate cancer – April 2012 09 Jul, 2013
Epigenetics of prostate cancer and vitamin D – June 2010 09 Jul, 2013
Need lots of UV AND vitamin D to reduce risk of breast cancer – Jan 2011 08 Jul, 2013
Genes breast cancer and vitamin D receptor - Sept 2010 08 Jul, 2013
Breast Cancer incidence change by 40 percent with vitamin D receptor genes – Oct 2012 08 Jul, 2013
County with 20 pcnt higher breast cancer rate has 2X more modified vitamin D receptor – July 2012 08 Jul, 2013
Hypothesis: Vitamin D is related to breast cancer racial disparities in the US - Sept 2012 08 Jul, 2013
Vitamin D receptor in breasts and breast cancer vary with race – March 2013 08 Jul, 2013
Recurrence of breast cancer not associated with vitamin D levels – Jan 2011 08 Jul, 2013
Vitamin D3 sensitizes breast cancer to radiation treatment - increasing cancer cell death – May 2010 08 Jul, 2013
Vitamin D Might Be Able to Slash Your Breast Cancer Risk by 90 Percent - Baggerly, Mercola: May 2013 08 Jul, 2013
Breast Cancer and Vitamin D: Dr Garland - video June 2013 08 Jul, 2013
Compelling evidence – Breast Cancer and vitamin D – Dissertation June 2012 08 Jul, 2013
Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Incidence and Outcome - Jan 2013 08 Jul, 2013
Breast Cancer chance decreased 16 percent for every extra ng of vitamin D – Jan 2013 08 Jul, 2013
If have breast cancer, should increase vitamin D to more than 30 ng – Jan 2012 08 Jul, 2013
Breast Cancer and long term vitamin D studies – March 2013 08 Jul, 2013
Wide variety of data on vitamin D and breast cancer, but still insufficient clinical data – Feb 2013 08 Jul, 2013
3.2 percent less Breast Cancer for 2.4 ng more vitamin D – meta-analysis June 2013 08 Jul, 2013
Vitamin D and breast cancer – overview – Oncologist 2012 08 Jul, 2013
Cancer in children 6X more likely if very low vitamin D – Oct 2011 05 Jul, 2013
When advanced Colon Cancer is not treated by Vitamin D – Mar 2012 02 Jul, 2013
6X less Breast Cancer if have even minimal vitamin D – July 2013 26 Jun, 2013
Can take 40,000 IU of vitamin D daily before prostate cancer surgery – RCT March 2013 18 Jun, 2013
Vitamin D, Sunlight, and the Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer – Jan 2013 18 Jun, 2013
Hypothesis: Vitamin D restricts blood to prostate cancer cells – June 2013 01 Jun, 2013
Hypothesis: vitamin D suppresses skin cancer – Sept 2012 01 Jun, 2013
Hypothesis: low vitamin D increases probability of colon cancer – May 2013 29 May, 2013
Calcium and vitamin D appear to be among the few ways to prevent ovarian cancer – 2010 28 May, 2013
No indication of association with Prostate Cancer and retinol, vitamin E or active vitamin D – Nov 2012 25 May, 2013
4X less Breast Cancer if have enough vitamin D – Dec 2010 23 May, 2013
Emerging role of vitamin D in colorectal cancer – Aug 2011 29 Apr, 2013
45 percent fewer deaths from digestive cancers for 10 ng increase in vitamin D – 2006 13 Apr, 2013
2900 IU not enough vitamin D to deal with Breast Cancer – Feb 2013 12 Apr, 2013
Cancer associations, including problems with too much vitamin D – March 2013 12 Apr, 2013
Vitamin D monotherapy reduces colorectal cancer but has calcemic side effects – April 2013 23 Mar, 2013
Colorectal Cancer and Vitamin D infographic 15 Mar, 2013
How Vitamin D reduces chance of breast cancer – review May 2012 13 Mar, 2013
Book: Sunlight, Vitamin D and Skin Cancer, Second Edition – June 2013 08 Mar, 2013
Breast Cancer not correlated with vitamin D – were they all low March 2013 05 Mar, 2013
Vitamin D and Cancer – Special issue Jan 2013 21 Feb, 2013
Quantum dots should deliver active vitamin D directly to inflammatory breast cancer tumors – Feb 2013 17 Feb, 2013
Colon Cancer vs vitamin D, 30 ng is good - Chart Feb 2013 05 Feb, 2013
Pathways that vitamin D prevents and treats colon cancer discovered, 2000 IU needed – Dec 2012 25 Jan, 2013
Unsure of association of vitamin D and prostate Cancer - 2011 21 Jan, 2013
Breast cancer tissues in petri dish benefit from active but not inactive vitamin D – Oct 2012 07 Jan, 2013
The sun appears better at reducing incidence of some cancers than vitamin D – Dec 2012 17 Dec, 2012
Most German skin cancer doctors recommend both sunscreen and vitamin D – Dec 2012 12 Dec, 2012
Risk of skin cancer vs. risk of low vitamin D – Nov 2012 07 Dec, 2012
Vitamin D Supplementation and Cancer - Review of RCT Jan 2013 06 Dec, 2012
Relevance of Vitamin D in Bone and Muscle Health of Cancer Patients - Jan 2013 06 Dec, 2012
Epidemiology of Vitamin D and Colorectal Cancer – Jan 2013 06 Dec, 2012
Cancer with bisphosphonates was not helped by 200 IU of vitamin D – Oct 2012 04 Dec, 2012
Vitamin D protects mouse from skin cancer – Sept 2012 29 Nov, 2012
Big Pharma continues to seek a patentable form of vitamin D for Breast Cancer – Nov 2012 13 Nov, 2012
Esophageal cancer clinical trial to see if 50000 IU vitamin D weekly well help – Oct 2010 10 Nov, 2012
Colorectal cancer 26 percent less likely for every 10 ng of vitamin D – meta-analysis Aug 2011 10 Nov, 2012
Pancreatic cancer vitamin D smoking and diabetes – Aug 2010 10 Nov, 2012
Dental and breast cancer might be linked by Vitamin D - March 2011 10 Nov, 2012
Vitamin D might not TREAT lung cancer – Nov 2010 10 Nov, 2012
200 to 500 IU vitamin D does not benefit bones nor prostate cancer – July 2012 10 Nov, 2012
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer associated with more than 15 ng of vitamin D in HMO Cohort – Dec 2011 09 Nov, 2012
PhD Dissertation - Local production of active vitamin D inhibits Prostate Cancer – Oct 2012 08 Nov, 2012
Bladder Cancer, Vitamin D, and Fibroblast Growth Factor – Oct 2012 31 Oct, 2012
Less than 20 ng of Vitamin D increases bladder cancer by 70 percent – Oct 2010 31 Oct, 2012
UVB and vitamin D inversely associated with pancreatic cancer April 2010 31 Oct, 2012
Impediments to UV Vitamin D Cancer hypothesis – Sept 2009 31 Oct, 2012
Breast Cancer stages and vitamin D levels – 2011 20 Oct, 2012
Possible association between Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer and vitamin D – June 2010 19 Oct, 2012
800 IU Vitamin D doesn't prevent heart attack or cancer – Dec 2011 16 Oct, 2012
Vitamin D levels very low for some childhood cancers, then got lower – Sept 2012 29 Sep, 2012
2X more likely to survive breast cancer disease free if lots of vitamin D – July 2011 22 Aug, 2012
Vitamin D and cancer: a view based of all models – April 2012 21 Aug, 2012
Vitamin D is one of several ways to prevent, but not treat colon cancer – Aug 2012 16 Aug, 2012
Missing molar and 12X increase in breast cancer – probable vitamin D link Aug 2011 11 Aug, 2012
Children surviving blood cancer and vitamin D levels – Nov 2011 08 Aug, 2012
Breast Cancer vs vitamin D chart - 2010 06 Aug, 2012
Hypothesis – Increasing Folate or vitamin D decreases probability of skin cancer – July 2012 02 Aug, 2012
Calcium with vitamin D decreased risk of subsequent skin cancer by 2X – June 2011 02 Aug, 2012
Review of Cancer and Vitamin D – April 2012 02 Aug, 2012
Vitamin D in Cancer Patients: Above All, Do No Harm – 2009 26 Jul, 2012
Breast cancer association with low vitamin D suggested by Meta-analysis -April 2010 19 Jul, 2012
Ways you can increase vitamin D levels, even if you have cancer – May 2012 27 Jun, 2012
Colon cancer probability increases with decreased vitamin D – Meta-analysis July 2011 23 Jun, 2012
Severe sleep apnea increased chance by 4.8 X of cancer death: low vitamin D – May 2012 23 Jun, 2012
No correlation between breast cancer - density - vitamin D – Aug 2010 05 Jun, 2012
Vitamin D and breast cancer: interpreting current evidence – Aug 2011 15 May, 2012
Vitamin D3 analog, 20-hydroxyvitamin D, inhibits cancer cells and is non-toxic – March 2012 09 May, 2012
The lower the vitamin D the sooner a blood cancer needed to be treated – Nov 2011 13 Apr, 2012
Vitamin D and Prevention of Breast Cancer - 2010 03 Apr, 2012
Advanced Prostate Cancer 2X more likely if less than 20ng of vitamin D – Oct 2011 17 Mar, 2012
IBD colorectal Cancer and vitamin D – Jan 2011 14 Mar, 2012
50 percent less breast cancer when have enough vitamin D - Sept 2011 02 Jan, 2012
vitamin D treats lung cancer - in animals -patent 2005 24 Dec, 2011
Lung Cancer and Vitamin D – 2 studies June 2011 24 Dec, 2011
18 Quotes on Vitamin D and Cancer – Feb 2010 19 Dec, 2011
Breast cancer reduced by 10 percent when vitamin D levels exceeded 27 ng 17 Oct, 2011
Breast Cancer 5 year study will give free vitamin D tests for 1000 women- Oct 2011 13 Oct, 2011
Vitamin D has a complex relationship with Cancer – meta-analysis July 2011 30 Sep, 2011
More likely to develop Prostate Cancer if have high level of vitamin D in Finland – Sept 2011 07 Sep, 2011
Meta-analysis of 3 cancers - 10 ng more vitamin D decrease colorectal by 15 percent– May 2010 31 Aug, 2011
Risk of Prostate Cancer weakly associated with vitamin D - meta-analysis March 2011 11 Aug, 2011
Vitamin D appears to both prevent and treat various cancers – Mar 2011 06 Aug, 2011
Breast cancer survivors should take vitamin D – Mar 2010 17 Jul, 2011
A vitamin D analog reduced UV generated skin cancer in mice – July 2011 08 Jul, 2011
800 IU of vitamin D not enough to treat colon cancer – June 2011 04 Jul, 2011
Lung cancer not reduced when vitamin D levels were less than 40 ng – June 2011 23 Jun, 2011
Genetics and colon cancer with only 400 IU of vitamin D – Dissertation Jan 2011 02 Jun, 2011
No reduction in Breast Cancer when vitamin D less than 40 ng - May 2011 15 May, 2011
59 percent more likely to die of Prostate Cancer if very low on vitamin D – April 2011 21 Apr, 2011
Video on how Vitamin D reduces Cancer – Feb 2011 01 Apr, 2011
Little reduction in breast cancer for additional vitamin D or sun – March 2011 29 Mar, 2011
Vitamin D and Prevention of Cancer — Is it ready for Prime Time – March 2011 26 Mar, 2011
Vitamin D deficiency more strongly associated with rectal than colon cancer – Mar 2011 25 Mar, 2011
Vitamin D for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer - July 2009 18 Mar, 2011
Every 100 IU of additional vitamin D decreased colorectal cancer by 4 percent – Mar 2011 11 Mar, 2011
Children with Cancer were 6X more likely to have less than 10ng of vitamin D – Feb 2011 05 Feb, 2011
Increasing vitamin D increases colon cancer in Finnish smokers – Jan 2011 22 Jan, 2011
Meta-analysis found vitamin D association with colon but not prostate nor breast cancer May 2010 17 Jan, 2011
Pancreatic Cancer and Vitamin D - LEF Dec 2010 10 Jan, 2011
Vitamin D and Colon Cancer - Dec 2010 22 Dec, 2010
Large Healthcare Org: 1500-2000 IU vitamin D to reduce cancer - Dec 2009 28 Nov, 2010
Is vitamin D the only supplement which consistently helps cancer survivors – Aug 2010 10 Nov, 2010
Low vitamin D in blacks increases colorectal cancer deaths 40 percent – Cancer Oct 2010 23 Oct, 2010
Breast Cancer recurred more when less than 20 ng of vitamin D – Oct 2010 20 Oct, 2010
Breast Cancer and pregnancy both better with vitamin D 03 Oct, 2010
How active vitamin D stops various cancers – abstract Oct 2010 28 Sep, 2010
Breast cancer may result from poor interaction with vitamin D – Sept 2010 18 Sep, 2010
Might too much vitamin D cause a form of breast cancer – Feb 2010 14 Sep, 2010
Meta-analysis not find low vitamin D years before breast cancer – Aug 2010 10 Sep, 2010
Breast Cancer associated with low vitamin D - Sept 2010 10 Sep, 2010
How I Treat Vitamin D Deficiency - for Cancer Mar 2010 30 Aug, 2010
Meta-analysis confirmed that vitamin D and calcium prevents breast cancer – June 2010 30 Aug, 2010
Dr Frank Garland who researched vitamin D and cancer died - Aug 2010 25 Aug, 2010
Colon cancer and vitamin D – Aug 2010 12 Aug, 2010
30 to 40 ng of vitamin D did not reduce some Cancers - no surprise - June 2010 02 Aug, 2010
Cancer meeting discussion of Nov 2009 mentioned vitamin D 01 Aug, 2010
Breast cancer reduced by 45 percent for women with the most vitamin D – July 2010 21 Jul, 2010
Will increasing vitamin D in blood to 100 ng reduce deaths of colon cancer patients- July 2010 08 Jul, 2010
Fish oil and vitamin D reduced breast cancer in rats – June 2010 07 Jul, 2010
Overview of vitamin D and Colon Cancer – Oct 2009 02 Jul, 2010
Vitamin D and Cancer from Health Book Summaries – Feb 2010 02 Jul, 2010
Sunlight, Vitamin D, and Prostate Cancer Risk - 2004 book 05 Jun, 2010
1200 IU of vitamin D did not have any impact on bladder cancer – June 2010 02 Jun, 2010
Why clinical trials are not finding benefits of vitamin D on cancer prevention and treatment – June 2010 02 Jun, 2010
Lack of vitamin D may account for increased rate of some cancers in obese persons – May 2010 02 Jun, 2010
Meta-analysis did not find strong association between vitamin D and breast cancer risk -April 2010 12 May, 2010
Solar radiation, vitamin D and cancer incidence and mortality in Norway 13 Apr, 2010
Reduce colorectal cancer with 1000 IU of vitamin D - April 2010 13 Apr, 2010
3 weeks of Vitamin D can not help much (Breast Cancer surgery in this case) – RCT Aug 2019 No value for 'modification_date_major'


Cancer patients have low vitamin D (Pediatric in this case) - Dec 2024        
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