Signaling through the vitamin D receptor has been shown to be biologically active and important in a number of preclinical studies in prostate and other cancers. Epidemiologic data also indicate that vitamin D signaling may be important in the cause and prognosis of prostate and other cancers. These data indicate that perturbation of vitamin D signaling may be a target for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. Large studies of vitamin D supplementation will be required to determine whether these observations can be translated into prevention strategies. This paper reviews the available data in the use of vitamin D compounds in the treatment of prostate cancer. Clinical data are limited which support the use of vitamin D compounds in the management of men with prostate cancer. However, clinical trials guided by existing preclinical data are limited.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Calcifediol/blood* ; Calcitriol/therapeutic use* ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Ergocalciferols/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/prevention & control* ; Signal Transduction ; Vitamin D/metabolism* ; Vitamin D Deficiency/epidemiology*

Vitamin D deficiency is common and may contribute to osteopenia, osteoporosis and falls risk in the elderly. Screening for vitamin D deficiency is important in high-risk patients, especially for patients who suffered minimal trauma fractures. Vitamin D deficiency should be treated according to the severity of the deficiency. In high-risk adults, follow-up serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration should be measured 3-4 months after initiating maintenance therapy to confirm that the target level has been achieved. All patients should maintain a calcium intake of at least 1,000 mg for women aged ≤ 50 years and men ≤ 70 years, and 1,300 mg for women > 50 years and men > 70 years.
Aged ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; prevention & control ; Calcium, Dietary ; therapeutic use ; Cholecalciferol ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; complications ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; prevention & control ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; methods ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin D ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

Inadequate vitamin D status is highly prevalent in the Korean population, especially among young adults. Nonetheless, correlates of suboptimal vitamin D levels in young adults are not well defined. This study aimed to investigate potentially modifiable determinants of vitamin D levels in young adults in Korea. This cross-sectional study was based on health check-up data from 3,450 healthy male and female university students aged 18-29 yr in Seoul between April and May 2013. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were determined using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Anthropometric data were measured, and lifestyle, dietary, and sociodemographic factors were obtained through self-administered questionnaires. General linear regression was used to assess correlates of serum 25(OH)D levels. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 11.1 ng/mL, and the prevalence of 25(OH)D levels less than 10 ng/mL was 44.7% (39.5% in men, 50.2% in women). In a final multivariable model, significant positive correlates of serum 25(OH)D were older age, male sex, increased physical activity, sunlight exposure > or = 30 min/day, eating breakfast regularly, consumption of dairy and fatty fish, and use of vitamin D-containing supplements. In contrast, significant inverse correlates were obesity (body mass index, BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) or underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), abdominal obesity, increased sedentary time, and frequent consumption of instant noodles and sugar-sweetened beverages. In conclusion, many modifiable lifestyle and dietary factors were associated with low serum 25(OH)D levels in Korean young adults. Further studies on potential mechanisms of the correlates and optimal strategies to improve vitamin D status in this vulnerable subpopulation are warranted.
Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Dietary Supplements/*statistics & numerical data ; *Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Assessment ; Sex Distribution ; Vitamin D/*administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives/blood ; Vitamin D Deficiency/*blood/*epidemiology/prevention & control ; Young Adult