Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the prevalence and factors predictive of vitamin D deficiency in patients with malignancy in Brisbane, Australia (latitude 27° S).
Methods
This is a prospective cross-sectional study measuring serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in 100 subjects with non-haematological cancer at least 18 years of age not taking vitamin D supplements attending a day oncology unit and oncology/palliative care inpatient ward in Brisbane, Australia.
Results
Thirty-seven per cent of outpatient and 49 % of inpatient subjects respectively were vitamin D deficient. Functional status was predictive of low vitamin D levels.
Conclusion
There was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with cancer in Brisbane, Australia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dev R, Del Fabbro E, Schwartz GG et al (2011) Preliminary report: vitamin D deficiency in advanced cancer patients with symptoms of fatigue or anorexia. Oncologist; 16:1637–1641
Wang-Gillam A, Miles DA, Hutchins LF (2008) Evaluation of vitamin D deficiency in breast cancer patients on bisphosphonates. Oncologist 13:821–827
Everett PC (2008) The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in a hematology-oncology clinic. Clin J Oncol Nurs 12:33–35
Trump DL, Chadha MK, Sunga AY et al (2009) Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among patients with prostate cancer. BJU Int 104:909–914
Rainville C, Khan Y, Tisman G (2009) Triple negative breast cancer patients presenting with low serum vitamin D levels: a case series. Cases J 2:8390
Crew KD, Shane E, Cremers S et al (2009) High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency despite supplementation in premenopausal women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol 27:2151–2156
Solomon L, Vitamin D (2012) Deficiency as a risk factor for pain: prevalence in the setting of advanced malignancy. J Pain Symptom Manag 43:379–380
Fakih MG, Trump DL, Johnson CS et al (2009) Chemotherapy is linked to severe vitamin D deficiency in patients with colorectal cancer. Int J Colorectal Dis 24:219–224
Crew KD, Gammon MD, Steck SE et al (2009) Association between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and breast cancer risk. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2:598–604
To T (2010) Vitamin D deficiency in an Australian inpatient hospice population. J Pain Symptom Manag 41:e1–e2
Nowson CA, McGrath JJ, Ebeling PR et al (2012) Vitamin D and health in adults in Australia and New Zealand: a position statement. Med J Aust 196:686–687
Vu LH, Whiteman DC, van der Pols JC et al (2011) Serum vitamin D levels in office workers in a subtropical climate. Photochem Photobio 87:714–720
Kimlin M, Harrison S, Nowak M et al (2007) Does a high UV environment ensure adequate vitamin D status? J Photochem Photobiol B 89:139–147
McGrath JJ, Kimlin MG, Saha S et al (2001) Vitamin D insufficiency in south-east Queensland. Med J Aust 174:150–151
Daly RM, Gagnon C, Lu ZX, Magliano DJ et al (2012) Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its determinants in Australian adults aged 25 years and older: a national, population-based study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 77:26–35
Straube S, Andrew Moore R, Derry S et al (2009) Vitamin D and chronic pain. Pain 141:10–13
Amir E, Simmons CE, Freedman OC et al (2010) A phase 2 trial exploring the effects of high-dose (10,000 IU/day) vitamin D(3) in breast cancer patients with bone metastases. Cancer; 116:284–291
Jorde R, Sneve M, Figenschau Y et al (2008) Effects of vitamin D supplementation on symptoms of depression in overweight and obese subjects: randomized double blind trial. J Intern Med 264:599–609
Murad MH, Elamin KB, Abu Elnour NO et al (2011) Clinical review: the effect of vitamin D on falls: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96:2997–3006
Thacher TD, Clarke BL (2011) Vitamin D insufficiency. Mayo Clin Proc 86:50–60
Crew KD (2013) Vitamin D: are we ready to supplement for breast cancer prevention and treatment? ISRN Oncol 2013:483687. doi:10.1155/2013/483687
Lazzeroni M, Serrano D, Pilz S, Gandini S (2013) Vitamin D supplementation and cancer: review of randomized controlled trials. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 13:118–125
Lai JK, Lucas RM, Banks E et al (2012) Variability in vitamin D assays impairs clinical assessment of vitamin D status. Intern Med J 42:43–50
Nowak M, Harrison SL, Buettner PG et al (2011) Vitamin D status of adults from tropical Australia determined using two different laboratory assays: implications for public health messages. Photochem Photobiol 87:935–943
Davis EL, Oh B, Butow PN, Mullan BA et al (2012) Disclosure and patient-doctor communication of complementary and alternative medicine use: a systematic review. Oncologist 17:1475–1481
Conflict of interest
No funding was received for this study. The authors declare no conflict of interest. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow Supportive Care in Cancer to review the data if requested.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Morton, A., Hardy, J., Morton, A. et al. Vitamin D deficiency in patients with malignancy in Brisbane. Support Care Cancer 22, 2223–2227 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2218-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2218-z