Both high and low levels of blood vitamin D are associated with a higher prostate cancer risk: a longitudinal, nested case-control study in the Nordic countries.
Vitamin D inhibits the development and growth of prostate cancer cells. Epidemiologic results on serum vitamin D levels and prostate cancer risk have, however, been inconsistent. We conducted a longitudinal nested case-control study on Nordic men (Norway, Finland and Sweden) using serum banks of 200,000 samples. We studied serum 25(OH)-vitamin D levels of 622 prostate cancer cases and 1,451 matched controls and found that both low (</=19 nmol/l) and high (>/=80 nmol/l) 25(OH)-vitamin D serum concentrations are associated with higher prostate cancer risk. The normal average serum concentration of 25(OH)-vitamin D (40-60 nmol/l) comprises the lowest risk of prostate cancer. The U-shaped risk of prostate cancer might be due to similar 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) availability within the prostate: low vitamin D serum concentration apparently leads to a low tissue concentration and to weakened mitotic control of target cells, whereas a high vitamin D level might lead to vitamin D resistance through increased inactivation by enhanced expression of 24-hydroxylase. It is recommended that vitamin D deficiency be supplemented, but too high vitamin D serum level might also enhance cancer development.
Tuohimaa
Pentti
P
Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. Pentti.Tuohimaa@uta.fi
Tenkanen
Leena
L
Ahonen
Merja
M
Lumme
Sonja
S
Jellum
Egil
E
Hallmans
Göran
G
Stattin
Pär
P
Harvei
Sverre
S
Hakulinen
Timo
T
Luostarinen
Tapio
T
Dillner
Joakim
J
Lehtinen
Matti
M
Hakama
Matti
M
D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D012306:Risk; D013548:Sweden; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications
D002112:Calcifediol