PROSTATE CANCER: THE ROLES OF VITAMIN D DEFICIECNY

Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu*, Frances Ugonne Ogunnaya, Getrude Uzoma Obeagu and Calista Ndidi Adike

ABSTRACT

Since the early 1970s, scientists have wondered whether vitamin D compounds might play a role in both cancer development and treatment. Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) have been found in human cancer cells and in vitro growth arrest has been observed in response to treatment with vitamin D compounds. Due to the presence of vitamin D receptors in most human tissues and cancers that develop from these tissues. Numerous epidemiologic studies linking vitamin D to prostate cancer risk and outcome are one reason to investigate vitamin D`s role in the disease. African-American men's studies provide one of the strongest arguments in favor of a link between vitamin D and prostate cancer. When compared to Caucasian men, these men have significantly higher rates of prostate cancer mortality and low 25(OH)D3 levels (primarily as a result of the effect of skin pigmentation reducing intracutaneous synthesis of vitamin D).One might anticipate that different isoforms of vitamin D-metabolizing genes and possibly even vitamin D-binding protein may be connected with various cancer risks or outcomes if it were the case that low serum levels of 25(OH)D3 increased the risk of prostate and other cancers. Although there is a strong correlation between polymorphisms in the genes that control the production of vitamin D and vitamin D serum levels, a connection between these polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk or prognosis is still difficult to find.

Keywords: inflammation, prostate cancer, vitamin D.