High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with basal cell nevus syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate vitamin D status in patients with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) who practice photoprotection because of their genetic predisposition to skin cancer and to determine risk factors for deficiency.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Academic medical centers.


METHODS
Forty-one ambulatory patients with BCNS who participated in a 2-year chemoprevention clinical trial. Population-based controls (n = 360) were selected and matched by age, sex, Fitzpatrick skin type, and season/geography.


METHODS
Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and vitamin D deficiency (defined as a 25[OH]D level of ≤20 ng/mL).


RESULTS
Twenty-three patients with BCNS (56%) were vitamin D deficient. Patients with BCNS had mean 25(OH)D levels below those of the general population (-3 ng/mL; P = .02) and were 3 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient (56% vs 18%; P < .001). Levels of 25(OH)D were lower in patients who were overweight (-3.0 ng/mL; P = .04) and who had blood collected in the winter compared with the summer (-7.1 ng/mL; P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with BCNS may be at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency, depending on their adherence to photoprotection practices.
Tang
Jean Y
JY
Department of Dermatology, Stanford University Medical Center, 450 Broadway St, Pavilion C, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA. tangy@stanford.edu
Wu
Angela
A
Linos
Eleni
E
Parimi
Neeta
N
Lee
Wayne
W
Aszterbaum
Michelle
M
Asgari
Maryam M
MM
Bickers
David R
DR
Epstein
Ervin H
EH
D000328:Adult; D001478:Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D