title: High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in patients with head and neck cancer at diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low serum levels of vitamin D, measured as serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (S-25-OHD), have been observed in several cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five adult patients with head and neck cancer, 50 men, median age 61 years (range, 33-77 years), were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Concentrations of S-25-OHD and plasma calcium (Ca) and phosphate (Pi) were measured before cancer treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean S-25-OHD was 42.0 (SD 22) nmol/L. Hypovitaminosis D (37.5-50 nmol/L) was found in 20% of the patients and vitamin D deficiency (<37.5 nmol/L) in 45% of the patients. No seasonal variation was seen. Subnormal plasma Ca and Pi levels were found in 11% and 9% of the patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subnormal vitamin D levels were found in a significant proportion of the patients. Because vitamin D deficiency may pose these patients to increased risk of therapy-related morbidity, special attention should be paid to correction of this nutritional deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition Therapy, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orell-Kotikangas
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Österlund
authors.forename: Kauko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saarilahti
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mäkitie
authors.forename: Antti A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mäkitie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*