title: Relevance of vitamin D in bone and muscle health of cancer patients.
abstract: Cancer patients with advanced disease frequently feel weak and fatigued, and have an increased risk of fracture. At the same time several reports describe the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in these patients. This review will summarize the impact of vitamin D deficiency on muscle weakness and fracture risk. While larger clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation are lacking in cancer patients, the evidence from clinical trials among older adults of the general population support a significant benefit of vitamin D on muscle strength, and fall and fracture reduction. Mechanistic evidence regarding the presence of the specific vitamin D receptor in muscle tissue and muscle biopsy abnormalities observed with deficiency will be reviewed, as well as molecular and non-molecular effects of vitamin D in muscle tissue. At the clinical level, the evidence from randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation on functional improvement and fall reduction will be summarized. Finally, trial and epidemiological data will be reviewed to assess desirable serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels for optimal muscle health.
authors.affiliation: Centre on Aging and Mobility, University of Zurich and City Hospital Waid, Dept. of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Gloriastrasse 25, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Heike.Bischoff@usz.ch
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bischoff-Ferrari
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D