title: Vitamin D deficiency and its association with fatigue and quality of life in advanced cancer patients under palliative care: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A normal vitamin D status is required for bones and muscles to maintain their function and structure, but it also contributes to the functional integrity of other multiple physiologic systems in the body.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship of Vitamin D deficiency with health-related quality-of-life issues, fatigue, and physical functioning in advanced cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study.
  Adults under palliative care, having a locally advanced or metastatic or inoperable solid cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 30 patients in palliative care with advanced solid cancer, 90% were vitamin D deficient. Serum Vitamin D concentration was positively correlated with patient-reported absence of fatigue (s = 0.49), and physical and functional well-being (s = 0.44 and s = 0.41, respectively, p < 0.01). Fatigue was the symptom with the highest median impact on their lives and was the only one associated with serum vitamin D (p = 0.031), with lower fatigue in patients with vitamin D concentrations in the third tertile. There was no evidence of a direct association between health-related quality of life and vitamin D status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 90% frequency of advanced cancer patients with vitamin D deficiency, together with the positive correlation of vitamin D status with the absence of fatigue and improved physical and functional well-being, points to vitamin D supplementation as a potential therapy to enhance the patient's quality of life.
authors: Unit of Biostatistics and Methodological Support, IRBLLEIDA, Lleida, Spain montserrat.martinez@cmb.udl.cat.
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: Martínez-Alonso
authors: Division of Experimental Nephrology, IRBLLEIDA, Lleida, Spain Bone and Mineral Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Dusso
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
authors: Gemma
authors: G
authors: Ariza
authors: Palliative Care Supportive Team, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Nabal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Advanced cancer; fatigue; palliative care; quality of life; vitamin D