[Importance of vitamin D in prostatic carcinoma]

Vitamin D has an antiproliferative effect on carcinomatous cells of the prostate. Vitamin D deficiency is considered a risk factor for the manifestation and development of prostate cancer. The authors present a report on plasma levels of vitamin D metabolites in patients with prostate cancer and vitamin D therapy is discussed.

In 14 patients with prostate carcinoma plasma concentrations of the sum of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites and 1.25-dihydroxy vitamin D were assessed before treatment and three months after treatment. For evaluation of the sum of hydroxylated metabolites the radiotest was used; the plasma concentration of 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D was assessed by radioimmunoanalysis. For statistical evaluation Friedman's test and simultaneous testing were used.

Vitamin D deficiency was not revealed, however, after 3 months treatment a mild vitamin D deficiency was manifested. In 28.5% of the patients very low levels of the sum of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites and higher values of the specific prostatic antigen (PSA) persisted.