Cedric F. Garland, DrPH,
Frank C. Garland, PhD,
Edward D. Gorham, PhD, MPH,
Martin Lipkin, MD,
Harold Newmark, ScD,
Sharif B. Mohr, MPH and
Michael F. Holick, MD, PhD
Cedric F. Garland, Frank C. Garland, and Edward D. Gorham are with the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego. Cedric F. Garland, Frank C. Garland, Edward D. Gorham, and Sharif B. Mohr are with the Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, Calif. Martin Lipkin is with the Strang Cancer Prevention Center, New York, NY. Harold Newmark is with the Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. Michael F. Holick is with the Vitamin D Laboratory, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Cedric Garland, DrPH, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, 0631C, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093-0631 (e-mail: cgarland{at}ucsd.edu).
Vitamin D status differs by latitude and race, with residentsof the northeastern United States and individuals with moreskin pigmentation being at increased risk of deficiency. A PubMeddatabase search yielded 63 observational studies of vitaminD status in relation to cancer risk, including 30 of colon,13 of breast, 26 of prostate, and 7 of ovarian cancer, and severalthat assessed the association of vitamin D receptor genotypewith cancer risk.
The majority of studies found a protective relationship betweensufficient vitamin D status and lower risk of cancer. The evidencesuggests that efforts to improve vitamin D status, for exampleby vitamin D supplementation, could reduce cancer incidenceand mortality at low cost, with few or no adverse effects.
This article has been cited by other articles:
T. Kulie, A. Groff, J. Redmer, J. Hounshell, and S. Schrager Vitamin D: An Evidence-Based Review
J Am Board Fam Med,
November 1, 2009;
22(6):
698 - 706.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. M. Mansbach, A. A. Ginde, and C. A. Camargo Jr Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Among US Children Aged 1 to 11 Years: Do Children Need More Vitamin D?
Pediatrics,
November 1, 2009;
124(5):
1404 - 1410.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. Almirall, M. Vaqueiro, M. L. Bare, and E. Anton Association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and high arterial blood pressure in the elderly
Nephrol. Dial. Transplant.,
September 11, 2009;
(2009)
gfp470v1.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
T. Goodman Measurement and specification of lighting: A look at the future
Lighting Research and Technology,
September 1, 2009;
41(3):
229 - 243.
[Abstract][PDF]
J. L. Lapp Vitamin D: Bone Health and Beyond
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine,
September 1, 2009;
3(5):
386 - 393.
[Abstract][PDF]
C. M Lenders, H. A Feldman, E. Von Scheven, A. Merewood, C. Sweeney, D. M Wilson, P. D. Lee, S. H Abrams, S. E Gitelman, M. S Wertz, et al. Relation of body fat indexes to vitamin D status and deficiency among obese adolescents
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
September 1, 2009;
90(3):
459 - 467.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
K. KOSTNER, N. DENZER, C. S.L. MULLER, R. KLEIN, W. TILGEN, and J. REICHRATH The Relevance of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Gene Polymorphisms for Cancer: A Review of the Literature
Anticancer Res,
September 1, 2009;
29(9):
3511 - 3536.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
W. B. GRANT and B. J. BOUCHER Current Impediments to Acceptance of the Ultraviolet-B-Vitamin D-Cancer Hypothesis
Anticancer Res,
September 1, 2009;
29(9):
3597 - 3604.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. PETERLIK, W. B. GRANT, and H. S. CROSS Calcium, Vitamin D and Cancer
Anticancer Res,
September 1, 2009;
29(9):
3687 - 3698.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
T. NITTKE, E. KALLAY, T. MANHARDT, and H. S. CROSS Parallel Elevation of Colonic 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Levels and Apoptosis in Female Mice on a Calcium-deficient Diet
Anticancer Res,
September 1, 2009;
29(9):
3727 - 3732.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. Johal and A. Levin Vitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone in General Populations: Understandings in 2009 and Applications to Chronic Kidney Disease
Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.,
September 1, 2009;
4(9):
1508 - 1514.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
G. B. Mann, Y. C. Kang, C. Brand, P. R. Ebeling, and J. A. Miller Secondary Causes of Low Bone Mass in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Need for Greater Vigilance
J. Clin. Oncol.,
August 1, 2009;
27(22):
3605 - 3610.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
R. G Stevens Light-at-night, circadian disruption and breast cancer: assessment of existing evidence
Int. J. Epidemiol.,
August 1, 2009;
38(4):
963 - 970.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
K. D. Crew, E. Shane, S. Cremers, D. J. McMahon, D. Irani, and D. L. Hershman High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Despite Supplementation in Premenopausal Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy
J. Clin. Oncol.,
May 1, 2009;
27(13):
2151 - 2156.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. A. Ginde, M. C. Liu, and C. A. Camargo Jr Demographic Differences and Trends of Vitamin D Insufficiency in the US Population, 1988-2004
Arch Intern Med,
March 23, 2009;
169(6):
626 - 632.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
S. S. Tworoger, M. A. Gate, I-M. Lee, J. E. Buring, L. Titus-Ernstoff, D. Cramer, and S. E. Hankinson Polymorphisms in the Vitamin D Receptor and Risk of Ovarian Cancer in Four Studies
Cancer Res.,
March 1, 2009;
69(5):
1885 - 1891.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. E. Millen, M. Pettinger, J. L. Freudenheim, R. D. Langer, C. A. Rosenberg, Y. Mossavar-Rahmani, C. M. Duffy, D. S. Lane, A. McTiernan, L. H. Kuller, et al. Incident Invasive Breast Cancer, Geographic Location of Residence, and Reported Average Time Spent Outside
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.,
February 1, 2009;
18(2):
495 - 507.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
P. T. Alpert Vitamin D Insufficiency: A New Face to an Old Disorder
Home Health Care Management Practice,
February 1, 2009;
21(2):
132 - 134.
[PDF]
N. Afonso Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer--What the Primary Care Provider Needs to Know
J Am Board Fam Med,
January 1, 2009;
22(1):
43 - 50.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
R. T. Chlebowski, K. C. Johnson, C. Kooperberg, M. Pettinger, J. Wactawski-Wende, T. Rohan, J. Rossouw, D. Lane, M. J. O'Sullivan, S. Yasmeen, et al. Calcium Plus Vitamin D Supplementation and the Risk of Breast Cancer
J Natl Cancer Inst,
November 19, 2008;
100(22):
1581 - 1591.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
S. Hansdottir, M. M. Monick, S. L. Hinde, N. Lovan, D. C. Look, and G. W. Hunninghake Respiratory Epithelial Cells Convert Inactive Vitamin D to Its Active Form: Potential Effects on Host Defense
J. Immunol.,
November 15, 2008;
181(10):
7090 - 7099.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
K. M. Blackmore, M. Lesosky, H. Barnett, J. M. Raboud, R. Vieth, and J. A. Knight Vitamin D From Dietary Intake and Sunlight Exposure and the Risk of Hormone-Receptor-Defined Breast Cancer
Am. J. Epidemiol.,
October 15, 2008;
168(8):
915 - 924.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
T. Mizoue, Y. Kimura, K. Toyomura, J. Nagano, S. Kono, R. Mibu, M. Tanaka, Y. Kakeji, Y. Maehara, T. Okamura, et al. Calcium, Dairy Foods, Vitamin D, and Colorectal Cancer Risk: The Fukuoka Colorectal Cancer Study
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.,
October 1, 2008;
17(10):
2800 - 2807.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. L. Evatt, M. R. DeLong, N. Khazai, A. Rosen, S. Triche, and V. Tangpricha Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Patients With Parkinson Disease and Alzheimer Disease
Arch Neurol,
October 1, 2008;
65(10):
1348 - 1352.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. W Turunen, P. K Verkasalo, H. Kiviranta, E. Pukkala, A. Jula, S. Mannisto, R. Rasanen, J. Marniemi, and T. Vartiainen Mortality in a cohort with high fish consumption
Int. J. Epidemiol.,
October 1, 2008;
37(5):
1008 - 1017.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
N. G. Forouhi, J. Luan, A. Cooper, B. J. Boucher, and N. J. Wareham Baseline Serum 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Is Predictive of Future Glycemic Status and Insulin Resistance: The Medical Research Council Ely Prospective Study 1990-2000
Diabetes,
October 1, 2008;
57(10):
2619 - 2625.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
B. Hintzpeter, C. Scheidt-Nave, M. J. Muller, L. Schenk, and G. B. M. Mensink Higher Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Immigrant Background among Children and Adolescents in Germany
J. Nutr.,
August 1, 2008;
138(8):
1482 - 1490.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
H. Dobnig, S. Pilz, H. Scharnagl, W. Renner, U. Seelhorst, B. Wellnitz, J. Kinkeldei, B. O. Boehm, G. Weihrauch, and W. Maerz Independent Association of Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Levels With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality
Arch Intern Med,
June 23, 2008;
168(12):
1340 - 1349.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
I. Cantor Shedding Light on Vitamin D and Integrative Oncology
Integr Cancer Ther,
June 1, 2008;
7(2):
81 - 89.
[Abstract][PDF]
R. J. Menezes, R. T. Cheney, A. Husain, M. Tretiakova, G. Loewen, C. S. Johnson, V. Jayaprakash, K. B. Moysich, R. Salgia, and M. E. Reid Vitamin D Receptor Expression in Normal, Premalignant, and Malignant Human Lung Tissue
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.,
May 1, 2008;
17(5):
1104 - 1110.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. Earthy and L. d. Silv Short-term vitamin D plus calcium did not prevent falls more than calcium alone in elderly inpatients
Evid. Based Nurs.,
April 1, 2008;
11(2):
58 - 58.
[Full Text][PDF]
M. F Holick and T. C Chen Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
April 1, 2008;
87(4):
1080S - 1086S.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
D. M. Freedman, S.-C. Chang, R. T. Falk, M. P. Purdue, W.-Y. Huang, C. A. McCarty, B. W. Hollis, B. I. Graubard, C. D. Berg, and R. G. Ziegler Serum Levels of Vitamin D Metabolites and Breast Cancer Risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.,
April 1, 2008;
17(4):
889 - 894.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. A. Qureshi, F. Laden, G. A. Colditz, and D. J. Hunter Geographic Variation and Risk of Skin Cancer in US Women: Differences Between Melanoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Basal Cell Carcinoma
Arch Intern Med,
March 10, 2008;
168(5):
501 - 507.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
E. Hypponen, B. J. Boucher, D. J. Berry, and C. Power 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, IGF-1, and Metabolic Syndrome at 45 Years of Age: A Cross-Sectional Study in the 1958 British Birth Cohort
Diabetes,
February 1, 2008;
57(2):
298 - 305.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. Moan, A. C. Porojnicu, A. Dahlback, and R. B. Setlow From the Cover: Addressing the health benefits and risks, involving vitamin D or skin cancer, of increased sun exposure
PNAS,
January 15, 2008;
105(2):
668 - 673.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
E. M. John, G. G. Schwartz, J. Koo, W. Wang, and S. A. Ingles Sun Exposure, Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms, and Breast Cancer Risk in a Multiethnic Population
Am. J. Epidemiol.,
December 15, 2007;
166(12):
1409 - 1419.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. Geelen, J. M. Schouten, C. Kamphuis, B. E. Stam, J. Burema, J. M. S. Renkema, E.-J. Bakker, P. van't Veer, and E. Kampman Fish Consumption, n-3 Fatty Acids, and Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies
Am. J. Epidemiol.,
November 15, 2007;
166(10):
1116 - 1125.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
D. M. Freedman, A. C. Looker, S.-C. Chang, and B. I. Graubard Prospective Study of Serum Vitamin D and Cancer Mortality in the United States
J Natl Cancer Inst,
November 7, 2007;
99(21):
1594 - 1602.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
P. T. Alpert and U. Shaikh The Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency on the Endocrine and Paracrine Systems
Biol Res Nurs,
October 1, 2007;
9(2):
117 - 129.
[Abstract][PDF]
P. Autier and S. Gandini Vitamin D Supplementation and Total Mortality: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Arch Intern Med,
September 10, 2007;
167(16):
1730 - 1737.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. F. Holick Vitamin D Deficiency
N. Engl. J. Med.,
July 19, 2007;
357(3):
266 - 281.
[Full Text][PDF]
G. E. Mullin and A. Dobs Vitamin D and Its Role in Cancer and Immunity: A Prescription for Sunlight
Nutr Clin Pract,
June 1, 2007;
22(3):
305 - 322.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. Mizobuchi, J. Morrissey, J. L. Finch, D. R. Martin, H. Liapis, T. Akizawa, and E. Slatopolsky Combination Therapy with an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor and a Vitamin D Analog Suppresses the Progression of Renal Insufficiency in Uremic Rats
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.,
June 1, 2007;
18(6):
1796 - 1806.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
G. Schwalfenberg Not enough vitamin D: Health consequences for Canadians
Can Fam Physician,
May 1, 2007;
53(5):
841 - 854.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. Brisson, S. Berube, C. Diorio, M. Sinotte, M. Pollak, and B. Masse Synchronized Seasonal Variations of Mammographic Breast Density and Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.,
May 1, 2007;
16(5):
929 - 933.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. Stephenson, M. Brotherwood, R. Robert, E. Atenafu, M. Corey, and E. Tullis Cholecalciferol significantly increases 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in adults with cystic fibrosis
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
May 1, 2007;
85(5):
1307 - 1311.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
S. S. Tworoger, I-M. Lee, J. E. Buring, B. Rosner, B. W. Hollis, and S. E. Hankinson Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Incident Ovarian Cancer
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.,
April 1, 2007;
16(4):
783 - 788.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
C. A Camargo Jr, S. L Rifas-Shiman, A. A Litonjua, J. W Rich-Edwards, S. T Weiss, D. R Gold, K. Kleinman, and M. W Gillman Maternal intake of vitamin D during pregnancy and risk of recurrent wheeze in children at 3 y of age
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
March 1, 2007;
85(3):
788 - 795.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
B. N. Ames Low micronutrient intake may accelerate the degenerative diseases of aging through allocation of scarce micronutrients by triage
PNAS,
November 21, 2006;
103(47):
17589 - 17594.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
W. Banach-Petrosky, X. Ouyang, H. Gao, K. Nader, Y. Ji, N. Suh, R. S. DiPaola, and C. Abate-Shen Vitamin d inhibits the formation of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in nkx3.1; pten mutant mice.
Clin. Cancer Res.,
October 1, 2006;
12(19):
5895 - 5901.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
H. A Bischoff-Ferrari, E. Giovannucci, W. C Willett, T. Dietrich, and B. Dawson-Hughes Estimation of optimal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for multiple health outcomes
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
July 1, 2006;
84(1):
18 - 28.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
B. W. Hollis and C. L. Wagner Nutritional vitamin D status during pregnancy: reasons for concern.
Can. Med. Assoc. J.,
April 25, 2006;
174(9):
1287 - 1290.
[Full Text][PDF]
G. G. Schwartz and W. J. Blot Vitamin d status and cancer incidence and mortality: something new under the sun.
J Natl Cancer Inst,
April 5, 2006;
98(7):
428 - 430.
[Full Text][PDF]