title: Role of vitamin d in the prevention of pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy of poor prognosis which is mostly diagnosed at advanced stages. Current treatment modalities are very limited creating great interest for novel preventive and therapeutic options. Vitamin D seems to have a protective effect against pancreatic cancer by participating in numerous proapoptotic, antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, prodifferentiating, and immunomodulating mechanisms. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] serum concentrations are currently the best indicator of vitamin D status. There are three main sources of vitamin D: sun exposure, diet,and dietary supplements. Sun exposure has been associated with lower incidence of pancreatic cancer in ecological studies. Increased vitamin D levels seem to protect against pancreatic cancer, but caution is needed as excessive dietary intake may have opposite results. Future studies will verify the role of vitamin D in the prevention and therapy of pancreatic cancer and will lead to guidelines on adequate sun exposure and vitamin D dietary intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Danbury Hospital, 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810, USA.
authors.forename: Pubudu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bulathsinghala
authors.forename: Kostas N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Syrigos
authors.forename: Muhammad W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Saif