Vitamin D and Actinic Keratoses

Individual susceptibility to development of actinic keratoses is influenced, in part, by polymorphisms in the gene that encodes for the vitamin D receptor.

The active form of vitamin D — 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D — inhibits the growth of many kinds of tumors by binding to the vitamin D receptor and influencing gene transcription. The gene for the vitamin D receptor, VDR, has polymorphisms that can encourage or discourage transcriptional activity when the receptor is occupied, thereby augmenting or decreasing vitamin D’s inhibitory effects on tumor growth. Because actinic keratoses (AKs) are tumors, and because vitamin D plays a role in prevention of skin cancer, polymorphisms of VDR may influence individual susceptibility to developing AKs.

In an Australian skin cancer study, researchers genotyped the VDR polymorphisms ApaI, TaqI, and FokI in 380 people, 190 of whom had one or more AKs at the tim…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)