The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention.

Abstract

Vitamin D, also known as cholecalciferol, is the precursor to the active steroid hormone 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol; 1, 25(OH)2D3). The main physiological role for 1, 25(OH)2D3 is to regulate calcium and inorganic phosphate homeostasis for bone health. More recently, vitamin D has been investigated for its effects in the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Preclinical data strongly support a role for vitamin D in the prevention of cancer through its anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic effects on cells. Epidemiologic and clinical studies have shown mixed data on the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and cancer risk. This report seeks to outline results from the most recent preclinical and clinical studies investigating the potential role of vitamin D in cancer prevention.

• Authors: Rachel A Ness, Duane D Miller, Wei Li
• Journal: Chinese journal of natural medicines (Chin J Nat Med) Vol. 13 Issue 7 Pg. 481-97 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 1875-5364 [Electronic] China
• PMID: 26233839 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 China Pharmaceutical University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Vitamin D
• Cholecalciferol
• Calcitriol

Topics

• Calcitriol (blood)
• Cholecalciferol (blood)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (blood, etiology, prevention & control)
• Vitamin D (blood)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (blood, complications)