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Vitamin D status in paediatric patients with cancer

Akash Sinha1, Peter Avery, Steve Turner

  • 1Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|February 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with cancer have lower vitamin D levels, with most being insufficient or deficient. Monitoring and supplementing vitamin D is crucial for these pediatric patients to mitigate health risks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Children with cancer face higher risks of bone and cardiovascular diseases.
  • Vitamin D status may play a role in these associated health risks.
  • This study investigated vitamin D levels in children undergoing cancer treatment or surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess vitamin D levels in children with a history of malignancy.
  • To compare vitamin D status between pediatric cancer patients and healthy controls.
  • To identify factors associated with vitamin D status in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 61 children with malignancy and 60 controls.
  • Measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D), parathormone, and bone biochemistry.
  • Analyzed vitamin D status in relation to age, sex, ethnicity, sampling time, and malignancy history.

Main Results:

  • Suboptimal vitamin D status (25-OH-D < 50 nmol/L) observed in 62% of cases.
  • Vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-D < 25 nmol/L) was significantly more common in children with malignancy (21.3% vs. 3.3%).
  • Poorer vitamin D status correlated with month of sampling, ethnicity, older age, and history of malignancy.

Conclusions:

  • Survivors of childhood cancer exhibit lower vitamin D levels compared to controls.
  • The majority of pediatric cancer patients have insufficient or deficient vitamin D.
  • Vitamin D assessment and replacement therapy are recommended for children with a history of cancer.
Abstract

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