The impact of vitamin D on cancer: A mini review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to summarize recent advances in vitamin D cancer research, focusing on its molecular mechanisms and translational potential across cancer types.
Results Summary
The study found that vitamin D deficiency is linked to increased cancer risk and progression, while supplementation may improve clinical outcomes, especially when combined with chemo/immunotherapy. Epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies revealed vitamin D's role in regulating cancer cell processes and immune system interactions.
Population
General cancer research (no specific population mentioned).
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
Mentioned potential combination with chemo/immunotherapeutic drugs.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D deficiency | increase | development and progression of a number of cancer types | - | - | linked to | #1 |
vitamin D | neutral | cancer cell self-renewal, differentiation, proliferation, transformation, and death | - | - | mediate | #2 |
vitamin D | neutral | immune system | - | - | anti-neoplastic properties | #3 |
circulating vitamin D levels | neutral | risk of cancer development and death | - | - | show clinicopathological correlations | #4 |
low circulating vitamin D levels | increase | cancers | - | - | associated with an increased risk | #5 |
supplementation alone or in combination with other chemo/immunotherapeutic drugs | increase | clinical outcomes | - | - | may improve | #6 |
In this review, we summarize the most recent advances in vitamin D cancer research to provide molecular clarity, as well as its translational trajectory across the cancer landscape. Vitamin D is well known for its role in regulating mineral homeostasis; however, vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to the development and progression of a number of cancer types. Recent epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies have revealed novel vitamin D-mediated biological mechanisms that regulate cancer cell self-renewal, differentiation, proliferation, transformation, and death. Tumor microenvironmental studies have also revealed dynamic relationships between the immune system and vitamin D's anti-neoplastic properties. These findings help to explain the large number of population-based studies that show clinicopathological correlations between circulating vitamin D levels and risk of cancer development and death. The majority of evidence suggests that low circulating vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of cancers, whereas supplementation alone or in combination with other chemo/immunotherapeutic drugs may improve clinical outcomes even further. These promising results still necessitate further research and development into novel approaches that target vitamin D signaling and metabolic systems to improve cancer outcomes.