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Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5206
ISSN (Online): 1875-5992

Relevance of Vitamin D in Bone and Muscle Health of Cancer Patients

Author(s): Heike Bischoff-Ferrari

Volume 13, Issue 1, 2013

Page: [58 - 64] Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/1871520611307010058

Price: $65

Abstract

Cancer patients with advanced disease frequently feel weak and fatigued, and have an increased risk of fracture. At the same time several reports describe the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in these patients. This review will summarize the impact of vitamin D deficiency on muscle weakness and fracture risk. While larger clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation are lacking in cancer patients, the evidence from clinical trials among older adults of the general population support a significant benefit of vitamin D on muscle strength, and fall and fracture reduction.

Mechanistic evidence regarding the presence of the specific vitamin D receptor in muscle tissue and muscle biopsy abnormalities observed with deficiency will be reviewed, as well as molecular and non-molecular effects of vitamin D in muscle tissue. At the clinical level, the evidence from randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation on functional improvement and fall reduction will be summarized. Finally, trial and epidemiological data will be reviewed to assess desirable serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels for optimal muscle health.

Keywords: Vitamin D, Falls, Muscle strength, Bone density, Fractures, osteoporosis, fast-twitch fibers, nuclear VDR, genomic transcriptional effect, 1-alpha-calcidiol


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