title: The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention.
abstract: Vitamin D status differs by latitude and race, with residents of the northeastern United States and individuals with more skin pigmentation being at increased risk of deficiency. A PubMed database search yielded 63 observational studies of vitamin D status in relation to cancer risk, including 30 of colon, 13 of breast, 26 of prostate, and 7 of ovarian cancer, and several that assessed the association of vitamin D receptor genotype with cancer risk. The majority of studies found a protective relationship between sufficient vitamin D status and lower risk of cancer. The evidence suggests that efforts to improve vitamin D status, for example by vitamin D supplementation, could reduce cancer incidence and mortality at low cost, with few or no adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, 0631C, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0631, USA. cgarland@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Cedric F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Gorham
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipkin
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Newmark
authors.forename: Sharif B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Holick
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D