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

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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

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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.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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16+ VitaminDWiki Infant/Child pages have CANCER in the title

The list is automatically updated

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VitaminDWiki – Cancer category contains:

• Cancer 297 items Overview Cancer and vitamin D
• Cancer and Vitamin D - many studies
• After Cancer Diagnosis 116 items
• Bladder Cancer 28 items
• Breast Cancer 260 items Overview Breast Cancer and Vitamin D
• Colon Cancer 146 items Overview Cancer-Colon and vitamin D
• Leukemia 19 items
• Liver Cancer 17 items
• Lung Cancer 55 items Overview Lung cancer and vitamin D
• Lymphoma Cancer 26 items
• Other Cancer 66 items
• Ovarian Cancer 26 items
• Pancreatic Cancer 58 items
• Prostate Cancer 105 items Overview Prostate Cancer and Vitamin D
• Skin Cancer 121 items Overview Suntan, melanoma and vitamin D
• Childhood Cancers - Vitamin D can help - many studies
• Easiest way to treat cancer – take Vitamin D – Nov 2022
• 13 Cancers are helped by Vitamin D – Biobank July 2023
• 2X increase of 14 cancers in non-seniors in 20 years (low vitamin D) – Sept 2022
• Vitamin D prevents and treats cancer in many ways – May 2021
• Those with recent cancer diagnosis had 7X increased risk of COVID-19 (more if A-A )- Dec 2020
• Deaths from many types of Cancer associated with low vitamin D- review of meta-analyses Sept 2020
• Cancer incidence and mortality is decreased if 40-60 ng of Vitamin D – April 2019
• 8 ways that Cancer might be prevented by Vitamin D - June 2019
• Cancer stem cells and Vitamin D - many studies
• Vitamin D Reduces Cancer Risk - Why Scientists Accept It but Physicians Do Not - Feb 2019
• Overview of Vitamin D Actions in Cancer – 31 page chapter in a book – 2018
• Vitamin D prevents breast cancer, reduces BC mortality, and reduces BC chemotherapy problems – Sept 2018
• Diagnosed with breast cancer – take vitamin D to cut chance of death by half – July 2018
• Melanoma 25 X more likely if low vitamin D – Feb 2018
• Better Cancer survival if higher vitamin D a decade earlier (esp. Melanoma, Kidney, Prostate)– Aug 2018

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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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