[Vitamin D levels in patients with recent cancer diagnosis]

apart from the known effects of vitamin D on phospho-calcium homeostasis, in recent years there is great interest in its extrabone effects.

to know the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) in newly diagnosed patients of cancer and to verify if there are differences between the different types of cancer.

cross-sectional study of a cohort of recent diagnosed cancer patients who were referred to Endocrinology consultation for a nutritional pre-surgery evaluation. One hundred and thirty-nine medical histories were reviewed. The socio-demographic and biometric data and 25(OH) D concentration were collected.

seventy-one of 139 patients had urological cancer, 27 had colorectal cancer (CRC), 35 had head and neck cancer and six, other types of cancer. The mean concentration of 25(OH) D was 50.41 nmol/l (95% CI = 46.67-54.14); 57.97% of patients showed vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/l) and 21.74%, insufficiency (50-75 nmol/l). We found a statistically significant higher prevalence of deficiency (p < 0.01) in head and neck cancer compared to urological cancer: 68.57% and 49.29%, respectively. Year season significantly modifies 25(OH) D concentration (p < 0.01).

there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among recent diagnosed cancer patients (especially in CRC and head and neck cancer). The use of reference values adjusted by year season could improve the study of 25(OH) D concentrations.