Serum vitamin D and risk of bladder cancer

Cancer Res. 2010 Nov 15;70(22):9218-23. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-0985. Epub 2010 Oct 26.

Abstract

Vitamin D may protect against several cancers, but data about the association between circulating vitamin D and bladder cancer are limited. Within the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study, a randomized controlled trial conducted to determine the effects of α-tocopherol and β-carotene supplements on cancer incidence in male smokers, 250 bladder cancer cases were randomly sampled by month of blood collection. Controls were matched 1:1 to cases on age at randomization and date of blood collection. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of bladder cancer by a priori categories of baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D; i.e., <25, 25 to <37.5, 37.5 to <50, ≥50 nmol/L] and by season-specific quartiles. After multivariable adjustment, we found that lower 25(OH)D was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of bladder cancer (versus ≥50 nmol/L; <25 nmol/L: OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.03-2.91; 25 to <37.5 nmol/L: OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.05-3.14; 37.5 to <50 nmol/L: OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.02-3.02; P trend=0.04). Similarly, increased risks for the lowest vitamin D category were observed when season-specific quartiles were used (Q1 versus Q4: OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 0.96-2.75; P trend=0.03). In this prospective study of male smokers, lower serum 25(OH)D was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Future studies should examine the association in other populations, especially nonsmokers and women.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fasting / blood
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / blood
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / blood*
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • alpha-Tocopherol / administration & dosage*
  • beta Carotene / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • beta Carotene
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • alpha-Tocopherol