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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Lab Physicians 2018; 10(01): 001-005
DOI: 10.4103/JLP.JLP_49_17
Review Article

Vitamin D and gastrointestinal cancer

Ashish Mahendra
Department of Oral Pathology, Chandra Dental College, Barabanki, India
,
Karishma,
Basanta Kumar Choudhury
Department Oral Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Dental Sciences and Sum Hospital, Kalinga Nagar, Shampur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
,
Tamanna Sharma
Department of Oral Pathology, Himachal Dental College, Sundernagar, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
,
Neha Bansal
Department Oral Medicine and Radiology, Dr HS Judge Institute of Dental Sciences, PU, Chandigarh, India
,
Richa Bansal
Department of Oral Pathology, Seema Dental College and Hospital, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
,
Shivangi Gupta
Department of Periodontics and Implantology, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital, Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, India
› Author Affiliations Financial support and sponsorship: Nil
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Abstract

Vitamin D serves as a precursor to the potent steroid hormone calcitriol, which has widespread actions throughout the body. Calcitriol regulates numerous cellular pathways that could have a role in determining cancer risk and prognosis. Low Vitamin D levels have been implicated in numerous disease processes including fracture risk, falls, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cancers. Metabolite of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25[OH]2D3) regulates numerous genes that control gut physiology and homeostasis. 1,25(OH)2D3 serves various functions such as maintaining the integrity of epithelial barrier and absorption of calcium and phosphate, and the host's defense against pathogens, and the inflammatory response by several types of secretory and immune cells. Although epidemiological data remain inconsistent, and randomized control trials in humans do not yet exist to conclusively support a beneficial role for Vitamin D, results from some correlating studies strongly suggest that Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of developing cancer and that avoiding deficiency and adding Vitamin D supplements might be an economical and safe way to reduce cancer incidence and improve cancer prognosis and outcome. The present review highlights the role of Vitamin D in cancer of the gastrointestinal tract including esophagus, gastric (stomach), liver, pancreas, and colon.

Key words

Cancer - Vitamin D receptor - Vitamin D


Publication History

Received: 18 March 2017

Accepted: 04 July 2017

Article published online:
19 February 2020

© 2018.

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

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