Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration Is Associated Inversely with Risk for Cancer

Whether plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration is associated with cancer risk is unclear. In this Japanese observational study, investigators assessed the relation between baseline plasma 25(OH)D concentration and subsequent risks for cancer among nearly 34,000 participants in a population-based health study. From this group, 3300 participants with incident cancer were identified during median follow-up of 17 years.

Mean plasma 25(OH)D levels ranged from 14 ng/mL (36 mmol/L) in the lowest quartile to 30 ng/mL (76 mmol/L) in the highest. After adjustment for multiple variables, participants in each of the second-, third-, and fourth-highest quartiles had roughly 20% lower risk for any cancer than did participants in the lowest qua…