The Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Cancer Survivors in a Nationwide Survey of the Korean Population

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 6; p. e0129901
• Main Authors: Oh, Myueng Guen, Han, Mi Ah, Park, Jong, Ryu, So Yeon, Choi, Seong-Woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.06.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Adult; Age; Aged; Archives & records; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Bone cancer; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer survivors; Chi-Square Distribution; Comorbidity; Comparative analysis; Disease prevention; Epidemiology; Female; Health; Humans; Identification methods; Internal medicine; Laboratories; Logistic Models; Male; Medical diagnosis; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - blood; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - ethnology; Nutrient deficiency; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Nutrition Surveys; Occupational health; Pediatrics; Population; Population studies; Prevalence; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Preventive medicine; Prognosis; Regression analysis; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Studies; Surveys; Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Vitamin D; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamin D Deficiency - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - ethnology; Vitamin deficiency; Workers; Young Adult; Republic of Korea; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129901

Recent studies have shown that inadequate vitamin D levels are associated with a poor cancer prognosis, but data regarding actual vitamin D levels in cancer survivors are limited. This study investigated the vitamin D levels and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Korean cancer survivors compared with non-cancer controls, and identified the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 915 cancer survivors and 29,694 controls without a history of cancer were selected. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured; vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D levels less than 20 ng/mL. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and associated factors. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 62.7% of cancer survivors and 67.1% of controls. Among cancer survivors, vitamin D deficiency was most prevalent among 19-44 year olds (76.2%) and among managers, professionals, and related workers (79.3%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that younger cancer survivors and those who work indoors were predisposed to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent among both cancer survivors and controls in Korea. The regular evaluation and management of vitamin D levels is needed for both bone health and general health in cancer survivors.