Abstract
BackgroundThe associations between vitamin D status, including plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and vitamin D intake, and pancreatic cancer risk and mortality are inconsistent. The aims of this study are to evaluate the antitumor and therapeutic effects of vitamin D status for pancreatic cancer patients.MethodsA literature search for relevant studies was conducted using PubMed and Embase databases. Risk ratio (RR), hazard ratio (HR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used as the effect measures. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata software 12.0.ResultsOur results indicated that high plasma 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with pancreatic cancer mortality without significant heterogeneity (HR=0.81, 95% CI=0.68–0.96). However, high plasma 25(OH)D levels could not reduce pancreatic cancer risk (RR=1.02, 95% CI=0.66–1.57). Moreover, vitamin D intake was also not associated with pancreatic cancer risk (RR=1.11, 95% CI=0.67–1.86)ConclusionsOur results indicate that high plasma 25(OH)D levels were significantly associated with improved survival in pancreatic cancer patients. However, there were no significant associations between vitamin D intake or plasma 25(OH)D levels and pancreatic cancer risk.
Highlights
Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal malignancy for which the incidence is increasing and mortality closely parallels the incidence [1, 2]
Our results indicate that high plasma 25(OH)D levels were significantly associated with improved survival in pancreatic cancer patients
There were no significant associations between vitamin D intake or plasma 25(OH)D levels and pancreatic cancer risk
Summary
Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal malignancy for which the incidence is increasing and mortality closely parallels the incidence [1, 2]. Surgical resection is regarded as the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer [3]. More than half of patients are not feasible for surgical resection at first diagnosis and there are no other effective treatments [4]. It is important to identify modifiable risk factors for pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality. The associations between vitamin D status, including plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and vitamin D intake, and pancreatic cancer risk and mortality are inconsistent. The aims of this study are to evaluate the antitumor and therapeutic effects of vitamin D status for pancreatic cancer patients
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