Serum 25-Hydroitamin D and Subsequent Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective: To determine the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 [OH]D) values and subsequent cancer incidence and mortality. Patients and Methods: We identified all adult patients living in Olmsted County, Minnesota, between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2011, who had at least 1 25(OH)D measurement and no prior diagnosis of cancer. Cancer outcomes were retrieved starting 30 days after 25(OH)D measurement and until patients' final clinical visit as an Olmsted County resident; December 31, 2014; or death. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze data. Results: A total of 8700 individuals had a 25(OH)D measurement and no history of cancer, with a mean +/- SD 25(OH)D value of 29.7 +/- 12.8 ng/mL (to convert to nmol/L, multiply by 2.496). The mean +/- SD age was 51.5 +/- 16.4 years, and most were women (78.1%; n=6796) and White (85.7%; n=7460). A total of 761 individuals developed cancer (skin cancer, n=360; nonskin cancer, n=401) during a median follow-up of 4.6 (interquartile range, 3.4-6.1) years. Compared with participants with 25(OH) D values of 20 to 50 ng/mL (reference group), those with 25(OH)D values less than 12 ng/mL had a greater nonskin cancer incidence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.36; P=.04) after adjustment. There was no association between 25(OH)D values and total cancer or skin cancer incidence. Compared with individuals from the reference group, 25(OH)D levels less than 12 ng/mL (HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.01 to 5.48; P=.047) and 12 to 19 ng/mL (HR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.05 to 4.22; P=.04) were associated with increased cancer mortality. Conclusion: Low 25(OH)D levels were associated with increased risk for incident nonskin cancer and cancer-related mortality. (C) 2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Automated summary

The study found that low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were associated with increased risk of incident nonskin cancer and cancer-related mortality, but not with total cancer or skin cancer incidence.