Prospective population-based study of the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels and the incidence of specific types of cancer.

Tea Skaaby,Nina Roswall,Charlotta Pisinger,Allan Linneberg,Torben Jørgensen,Sofus Christian Larsen,Betina Heinsbæk Thuesen,Lise Lotte Nystrup Husemoen

doi:10.1158/1055-9965.epi-14-0007

Abstract

Observational studies have suggested an inverse association between vitamin D status and cancer. We investigated the prospective associations between vitamin D status and the total and specific type of cancer in three cohorts from the general Danish population. A total of 12,204 individuals 18 to 71 years old were included. The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured at baseline, and information about cancer was obtained from the Danish Cancer Registry. During the 11.3-year median follow-up time, there were 1,248 incident cancers. HRs [95% confidence intervals (CI)] per 10 nmol/L higher baseline vitamin D level were: for all cancers (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.99-1.04), all cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, NMSC (HR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.97-1.03), head and neck cancer (HR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.84-1.12), colorectal cancer (HR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.88-1.02), cancer of bronchus and lung (HR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.91-1.05), breast cancer (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.96-1.09), cancer of the uterus (HR = 1.10; 95% CI, 0.95-1.27), prostate cancer (HR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93-1.08), cancer of the urinary organs (HR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.90-1.14), NMSC (HR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.10), and malignant melanoma (HR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.95-1.17). Apart from a significantly higher risk for NMSC with higher vitamin D status, we found no statistically significant associations between vitamin D status and total or specific cancers. Our results do not indicate that there is an impact of vitamin D on total cancer incidence.

Highlights

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin produced in sunexposed skin and can be ingested from the diet and dietary supplements
HRs [95% confidence intervals (CI)] per 10 nmol/L higher baseline vitamin D level were: for all cancers (HR 1⁄4 1.02; 95% CI, 0.99–1.04), all cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) (HR 1⁄4 1.00; 95% CI, 0.97–1.03), head and neck cancer (HR 1⁄4 0.97; 95% CI, 0.84–1.12), colorectal cancer (HR 1⁄4 0.95; 95% CI, 0.88–1.02), cancer of bronchus and lung (HR 1⁄4 0.98; 95% CI, 0.91–1.05), breast cancer (HR 1⁄4 1.02; 95% CI, 0.96–1.09), cancer of the uterus (HR 1⁄4 1.10; 95% CI, 0.95–1.27), prostate cancer (HR 1⁄4 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93–1.08), cancer of the urinary organs (HR 1⁄4 1.01; 95% CI, 0.90–1.14), NMSC (HR 1⁄4 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.10), and malignant melanoma (HR 1⁄4 1.06; 95% CI, 0.95–1.17)
Impact: Our results do not indicate that there is an impact of vitamin D on total cancer incidence

Summary

Introduction

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin produced in sunexposed skin and can be ingested from the diet and dietary supplements. The role of vitamin D in cancer is largely unresolved. Cancer is a broad group of diseases resulting from unregulated cell growth. Six main features of cancer cells have been suggested: self-sufficiency of growth signals, evasion of apoptosis, insensitivity to antigrowth signals, sustained angiogenesis, limitless replicative potential, and tissue invasion and metastasis [8]. Through its ability to induce apoptosis and prevent angiogenesis and migration in malignant cells, vitamin D could play an important role in some of the common pathways of cancer [1]. Observational studies have suggested an inverse association between vitamin D status and cancer. We investigated the prospective associations between vitamin D status and the total and specific type of cancer in three cohorts from the general Danish population

Methods

Results

Conclusion