title: Vitamin D deficiency in patients admitted to the general ward with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
abstract: A high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D has been reported in cancer patients. Low levels of 25-(OH)-vitamin D were found in 158 of 162 (97.5%) inpatients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer under active treatment, with severe deficiency (<20 ng/ml) in 77.2% and mild deficiency (20-30 ng/ml) in 20.4%.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported in cancer patients. Nevertheless, vitamin D serum levels have been checked in few patients. Information about the frequency of hypovitaminosis D in cancer patients in Argentina is unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in patients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was designed for cancer patients admitted to the general ward in 2014. The patients included had breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. All of them were under active treatment. The serum level of 25-(OH)-vitamin D [25-(OH)-D] was measured and categorized as sufficiency (>30 ng/ml), mild deficiency (20-30 ng/ml), and severe deficiency (<20 ng/ml).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 162 patients were included, 98.2% were in stages III-IV. Median level of 25-(OH)-D was 15.3 ng/ml (range 4.1-103.6 ng/ml). Serum levels <30 ng/ml were found in 158 (97.5%) patients, severe deficiency in 125 cases (77.2%) and mild deficiency in 33 cases (20.4%). In patients under chemo/hormone therapy, the median level was 15.3 ng/ml (range 4.1-103.6 ng/ml) and in those under concurrent therapy was 17.1 ng/ml (range 7.4-58.5 ng/ml); p = 0.1944. There were no statistical differences in severe or mild deficiency of vitamin D among breast, lung, and colorectal cancer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study found a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in hospitalized cancer patients under active treatment. Many authors have recommended dosing vitamin D levels in this population; normalizing serum levels is difficult.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alexander Fleming, Crámer 1180, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alexander Fleming, Crámer 1180, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alexander Fleming, Crámer 1180, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Yésica
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alexander Fleming, Crámer 1180, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alexander Fleming, Crámer 1180, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. fdcouselo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernando A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Díaz-Couselo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alexander Fleming, Crámer 1180, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zylberman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: Breast neoplasms; Cancer; Colorectal neoplasms; Lung neoplasms; Vitamin D deficiency