Vitamin D Level and Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma Risk

Various associations between serum vitamin D levels and skin cancer have been reported. In this issue, van der Pols et aL observed that baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels above 75 nmol/L were associated with an increased incidence of basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, and a nonstatistically significant decreased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. Complex factors including sun exposure, skin phototype, and anticarcinogenic and procarcinogenic effects of vitamin D are potential causes of the observed associations. Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2013) 133, 589-592. doi:10.1038/jid.2012.427