The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is higher in adult survivors of childhood cancer. (12th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neville, Kristen A.; Walker, Jan L.; Cohn, Richard J.; Cowell, Christopher T.; White, Christopher P.
• Is Part Of: Clinical endocrinology. Volume 82:Number 5(2015:May)
• Page Start: 657
• Page End: 662
• Publication Date: 2015-02-12
• Subjects: Endocrinology -- Periodicals; 616.4005
• DOI: 10.1111/cen.12721
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-0664

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cen12721-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cen12721-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>It is unclear whether the rate of vitamin D deficiency in paediatric cancer survivors is higher than in the background population, and whether this is of pathological significance.</p> </sec> <sec id="cen12721-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Patients and Methods</title> <p>25OHD was measured in a previously studied group of 208 survivors (<italic>n</italic> = 108 paediatric 5–17 years, <italic>n</italic> = 99 adults 18–39 years) and compared with paediatric (5–17 years; <italic>n</italic> = 132) and adult controls (25–35 years; <italic>n</italic> = 1393 from the AusDiab cohort) adjusted for age and gender. Relationships with treatment factors (irradiation, bone marrow transplantation and intensity of treatment) along with overweight/obesity (defined by BMI), abdominal adiposity (waist:height ratio >0·5) and hyperinsulinism or abnormal glucose tolerance (HI/aGT) were sought.</p> </sec> <sec id="cen12721-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>25OHD concentrations were similar in paediatric survivors compared with controls (64·3 ± 21·6 nmol/l <italic>vs</italic> 66·3 ± 22·8 nmol/l), with no effect of age or gender. Adjusted for gender, rates of 25OHD deficiency (<50 nmol/l) were higher in adult survivors compared with AusDiab controls (42·4% <italic>vs</italic> 20·8%; <italic>P</italic> < 0·001). Apart from time since diagnosis (<italic>P</italic> = 0·03), no relationship with treatment factors was detected. In multivariate regression analysis, abdominal adiposity (<italic>P</italic> = 0·001), but not overweight/obesity by BMI status nor HI/aGT, was associated with significantly lower 25OHD concentrations.</p> </sec> <sec id="cen12721-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Adult survivors are at increased risk of abnormalities in vitamin D compared to the background population, probably reflecting longer time since diagnosis. Like others, we have not identified any contributory treatment‐related factors. Vitamin D deficiency does not appear to be associated with the development of abnormal glucose tolerance in this population.</p> </sec> </abstract>