TY - JOUR
T1 - A Systematic Review of Vitamin D Supplementation in Oncology
T2 - Chance of Science or Effectiveness?
AU - Afonso, Marta Lourenço
AU - Capelas, Manuel Luís
AU - Pimenta, Nuno M.
AU - Santos, Teresa
AU - Mäkitie, Antti
AU - Ganhão-Arranhado, Susana
AU - Trabulo, Carolina
AU - Dias, David da Silva
AU - Neves, Pedro Miguel
AU - Ravasco, Paula
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/2
Y1 - 2025/2
N2 - Background: Vitamin D (VD) supplementation has increased considerably in the last decade, whether for the prevention or treatment of numerous diseases, including bone, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurologic, psychological, respiratory, infectious, or oncological. The primary objective of this scoping review was to examine and synthesize the scientific evidence on the role of VD in all-type cancer patients undergoing adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy with chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT), namely in improving side effects. Methods: This review was conducted by selecting papers from the CINAHL, Scopus and PubMed databases based on the descriptor terms mesh and title/abstract, taking into consideration the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, following the PRISMA-ScR (PRISMA extension for scoping reviews) statement. Results: A total of 758 papers were identified in different databases during this review. However, using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only five publications made up the final sample of the study. The studies included heterogeneous study methodologies, objectives, cancer diagnosis, as well as methods to assess body composition, which makes it difficult to compare them. Based on the analyzed studies, associations were found between bone density and VD in patients who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). In patients with non-small-cell lung cancer receiving CT, some of the side effects associated with the treatment were attenuated and reduced. In addition, another of the studies analyzed found that VD deficiency (VDD) has been associated with increased peripheral neuropathy (PN) induced by CT in the treatment of breast cancer. VD supplementation was found to be safe and effective. Conclusions: In this scoping review, VD is highlighted as a crucial factor in preventing the side effects of neoadjuvant RT or CT, as well as treating other treatment-related health conditions, such as osteoporosis, as well as ameliorating the side effects (nausea, vomiting, fatigue) associated with aggressive CT and RT.
AB - Background: Vitamin D (VD) supplementation has increased considerably in the last decade, whether for the prevention or treatment of numerous diseases, including bone, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurologic, psychological, respiratory, infectious, or oncological. The primary objective of this scoping review was to examine and synthesize the scientific evidence on the role of VD in all-type cancer patients undergoing adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy with chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT), namely in improving side effects. Methods: This review was conducted by selecting papers from the CINAHL, Scopus and PubMed databases based on the descriptor terms mesh and title/abstract, taking into consideration the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, following the PRISMA-ScR (PRISMA extension for scoping reviews) statement. Results: A total of 758 papers were identified in different databases during this review. However, using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only five publications made up the final sample of the study. The studies included heterogeneous study methodologies, objectives, cancer diagnosis, as well as methods to assess body composition, which makes it difficult to compare them. Based on the analyzed studies, associations were found between bone density and VD in patients who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). In patients with non-small-cell lung cancer receiving CT, some of the side effects associated with the treatment were attenuated and reduced. In addition, another of the studies analyzed found that VD deficiency (VDD) has been associated with increased peripheral neuropathy (PN) induced by CT in the treatment of breast cancer. VD supplementation was found to be safe and effective. Conclusions: In this scoping review, VD is highlighted as a crucial factor in preventing the side effects of neoadjuvant RT or CT, as well as treating other treatment-related health conditions, such as osteoporosis, as well as ameliorating the side effects (nausea, vomiting, fatigue) associated with aggressive CT and RT.
KW - adverse effects
KW - cancer
KW - neoadjuvant therapy
KW - neoplasm
KW - vitamin D
KW - Vitamin D Deficiency/drug therapy
KW - Humans
KW - Vitamin D/administration & dosage
KW - Neoplasms
KW - Bone Density/drug effects
KW - Female
KW - Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods
KW - Dietary Supplements
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85218881064&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu17040634
DO - 10.3390/nu17040634
M3 - Review article
C2 - 40004963
AN - SCOPUS:85218881064
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 17
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 4
M1 - 634
ER -
