title: Diabetes and cancer: Could vitamin D provide the link?
abstract: Diabetes and cancer are common diseases that may co-exist in the same individual. There is significant evidence that patients with diabetes have increased risk of developing certain cancers, especially colorectal, pancreatic and primary hepatic cancer. There is also good evidence that low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased risk of diabetes and increased risk of colorectal, and possibly other, cancers. In this article we propose that low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of cancer in people with diabetes and describe potential molecular pathways. We suggest that large scale randomised trials of vitamin D supplementation in patients at risk of diabetes, and in patients with established diabetes to examine the effect on cancer risk, are required.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Diabetes and Metabolism, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: Shahzaib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Tahseen A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Boucher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents