Volume 29, Issue 160, June 2025

The Expanding Role of Vitamin D in Cancer: Mechanisms, Metabolism, and Therapeutic Potential

Franciszek Glapiński^1♦, Karolina Woźniak², Michał Stasiak¹, Adam Woźniak², Wiktor Żyro², Katarzyna Żyro³

¹Central Clinical Hospital, 1a Banacha Str. 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
²St. Anne's Trauma Surgery Hospital, Barska Str. 16/20, 02-315 Warsaw, Poland
³Independent Public Health Care Facilities in Pruszków, al. Armii Krajowej 2/4, 05-800 Pruszków, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Franciszek Glapiński, Central Clinical Hospital, 1a Banacha Str. 02-097 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble prohormone. It plays a key role in maintaining calcium and phosphate balance. It also has many other functions beyond its role in the skeletal system. These include supporting the immune system, heart health, and cancer-related processes. This review explains the process of vitamin D synthesis, its mechanism of action, and its effects on the body. The review places special focus on its role in cancer. The review describes the process of vitamin D synthesis and its regulatory mechanisms. It also highlights the widespread presence of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in many tissues. Research indicates that lower levels of serum vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of developing cancer - especially multiple myeloma, breast, prostate, and lung cancer. Observational studies often show positive results. However, randomized clinical trials have demonstrated mixed outcomes. This limits the role of vitamin D in cancer prevention. Still, it is essential to maintain adequate vitamin D levels, especially in cancer patients. More research is needed to find effective supplementation strategies in cancer care.

Keywords: Vitamin D, Calcium and phosphate metabolism, extraskeletal impact of vitamin D, colon cancer

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e92ms3575

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i160.e92ms3575

Published: 25 June 2025