Clinic Laboratory
Contributions
Type: Publication Only
Background
Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium and bone metabolism. It also exerts some biological effects in regulatory systems including host defense, inflammation and immunity. Vitamin D deficiency is to be a worldwide problem, especially in developing countries. Low serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) have been associated with a number of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and infections. However, recent studies demonstrated evidence for vitamin D in preventing the development of many diseases including cancer. 25(OH)D is formed by hydroxylation of cholecalciferol in microsomes of hepatocytes. The serum concentration of 25(OH)D is used to determine vitamin D status in the body.
Aims
The prevalence of subclinical vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be higher in adult survivors of childhood cancer (1). However, the data on this subject are scarce.In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in acute leukemia patients who completed treatment.
Methods
Serum 25(OH)D levels of leukemia survivors were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique who were followed-up at Late Effect Clinic in Lösante Hospital between January 2013 and December 2013. According to criteria published by M?sra M et al. the serum 25(OH)D levels <15-20 ng/ml is considered insufficiency, or deficiency if <15 ng/ml or severe deficiency if ≤10 ng/ml for children and adolescents (2,3). According to criteria published by Kuchuk NO et al. the serum level of 25(OH)D was considered insufficiency if the level was ≤30 ng/ml and deficiency <10 ng/ml for young adults. (3,4)
Results
Two hundred and forty-eight patients (113 female and 135 male) aged between 3 and 31 were recruited. Of these, 233 patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 12 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 3 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).Treatment completion times were between 2 months and 17 years.
The results of serum 25(OH)D levels in survivors of childhood leukemia are shown in Table 1. Overall, 95 children and adolescents (38.1%) had normal levels of 25(OH)D whereas only two young adults older than 21 years (10.5%) had normal levels.
Table 1. Distribution of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D Levels after Chemotherapy According to Age.
<5age (n:4) | 6-9age (n:82) | 10-18age (n:113) | 19-21age (n:30) | >21age (n:19) | Total (n:248) | |
Children and adolescents | | | | | | |
Young adults | | |
Summary
The results of the current study showed that vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is an important problem in survivors of leukemia even in a country which the rate of sunlight exposure is high.
Studies in recent years, which show that vitamin D deficiency plays an important role in many diseases, including cancer, emphasize the importance of detection of the insufficiency/deficiency of Vitamin D and the necessity of the planning the corrective treatment.
Vitamin D deficiency is a health problem that concerns all age groups. Vitamin D inadequacy is now an internationally recognized health problem and survivors of neoplastic diseases may be at even higher risk than healthy children, adolescents, and adults. Thus, the measurement of vitamin D level in survivors of neoplastic diseases seems mandatory during their follow-up.(3,5)
Keyword(s): Acute leukemia, Late effects
Type: Publication Only
Background
Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium and bone metabolism. It also exerts some biological effects in regulatory systems including host defense, inflammation and immunity. Vitamin D deficiency is to be a worldwide problem, especially in developing countries. Low serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) have been associated with a number of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and infections. However, recent studies demonstrated evidence for vitamin D in preventing the development of many diseases including cancer. 25(OH)D is formed by hydroxylation of cholecalciferol in microsomes of hepatocytes. The serum concentration of 25(OH)D is used to determine vitamin D status in the body.
Aims
The prevalence of subclinical vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be higher in adult survivors of childhood cancer (1). However, the data on this subject are scarce.In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in acute leukemia patients who completed treatment.
Methods
Serum 25(OH)D levels of leukemia survivors were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique who were followed-up at Late Effect Clinic in Lösante Hospital between January 2013 and December 2013. According to criteria published by M?sra M et al. the serum 25(OH)D levels <15-20 ng/ml is considered insufficiency, or deficiency if <15 ng/ml or severe deficiency if ≤10 ng/ml for children and adolescents (2,3). According to criteria published by Kuchuk NO et al. the serum level of 25(OH)D was considered insufficiency if the level was ≤30 ng/ml and deficiency <10 ng/ml for young adults. (3,4)
Results
Two hundred and forty-eight patients (113 female and 135 male) aged between 3 and 31 were recruited. Of these, 233 patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 12 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 3 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).Treatment completion times were between 2 months and 17 years.
The results of serum 25(OH)D levels in survivors of childhood leukemia are shown in Table 1. Overall, 95 children and adolescents (38.1%) had normal levels of 25(OH)D whereas only two young adults older than 21 years (10.5%) had normal levels.
Table 1. Distribution of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D Levels after Chemotherapy According to Age.
<5age (n:4) | 6-9age (n:82) | 10-18age (n:113) | 19-21age (n:30) | >21age (n:19) | Total (n:248) | |
Children and adolescents | | | | | | |
Young adults | | |
Summary
The results of the current study showed that vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is an important problem in survivors of leukemia even in a country which the rate of sunlight exposure is high.
Studies in recent years, which show that vitamin D deficiency plays an important role in many diseases, including cancer, emphasize the importance of detection of the insufficiency/deficiency of Vitamin D and the necessity of the planning the corrective treatment.
Vitamin D deficiency is a health problem that concerns all age groups. Vitamin D inadequacy is now an internationally recognized health problem and survivors of neoplastic diseases may be at even higher risk than healthy children, adolescents, and adults. Thus, the measurement of vitamin D level in survivors of neoplastic diseases seems mandatory during their follow-up.(3,5)
Keyword(s): Acute leukemia, Late effects