Journal of Current Oncology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2021  |  Volume : 4  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 76--85

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with cancer and the need for routine screening and supplementation of vitamin D in patients with cancer


Ravishankar Bellala, Venkata Madhavi Bellala, Dikkala Srikanth, Sivaramakrishna Talluri, Prithvi Raj Bellala, Rishik Bellala 
 Department of Radiation Oncology, Omega Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Ravishankar Bellala
Department of Radiation Oncology, Omega Hospital, Arilova, Health City, Chinagadili, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530040
India

Context: The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in the general population in India ranges between 60% and 80% depending on dietary habits, occupation, and cultural practices. Deficiency of Vitamin D has been associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer. The anticancer effects of Vitamin D have been attributed to its antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic actions. This study aims at observing the magnitude of Vitamin D deficiency in patients with cancer and at stressing the importance of routine screening and supplementation of Vitamin D. Aim: To study the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in patients with cancer. Settings and Design: An analysis to study Vitamin D deficiency in patients with cancer. Materials and Methods: A consecutive observational study was conducted at Queen’s NRI hospital, Omega hospital Visakhapatnam, from April 2018 to September 2020. Blood samples of 157 patients attending follow-up clinics and patients receiving active treatment were collected. Serum total Vitamin D was estimated using the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method on Cobas E411 autoanalyzer. They were categorized into (1) deficient (vitamin D ≤20 ng/ mL), (2) insufficient (vitamin D between 20 and 29 ng/ mL), (3) sufficient (vitamin D ≥30–100 ng/mL), and (4) toxicity (vitamin D ≥30–100 ng/mL) and analyzed statistically. Statistical Analysis Used: Computer-based calculations were used for analysis of the collected data. Results: Among the 157 patients included in the study, 21 (13.3%) were having sufficient level, 21 (13.3%) insufficient, and 115 (73.2%) deficiency of vitamin D. The patients included in this study comprised 44 patients with breast cancer, 40 patients with cervical cancer, 47 patients with head and neck cancer, 10 patients with colon cancer, and 16 patients with cancers of other sites. Conclusion: In our evaluation, we found that more than 70% of patients with cancer attending our hospital are having vitamin D deficiency according to our study.


How to cite this article:
Bellala R, Bellala VM, Srikanth D, Talluri S, Bellala PR, Bellala R. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with cancer and the need for routine screening and supplementation of vitamin D in patients with cancer.J Curr Oncol 2021;4:76-85


How to cite this URL:
Bellala R, Bellala VM, Srikanth D, Talluri S, Bellala PR, Bellala R. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with cancer and the need for routine screening and supplementation of vitamin D in patients with cancer. J Curr Oncol [serial online] 2021 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];4:76-85
Available from: http://www.https://journalofcurrentoncology.org//article.asp?issn=2589-8892;year=2021;volume=4;issue=2;spage=76;epage=85;aulast=Bellala;type=0