Vitamin D is associated with melanoma outcomes

This study investigated if low levels of vitamin D are associated with worse melanoma prognosis. Researchers suggested that low levels of vitamin D are associated with worse outcomes in metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) melanoma.

Recent studies have suggested that a low vitamin D level (less than 20 ng/mL) is associated with pancreatic and colorectal cancer as well as melanoma. Lower levels of vitamin D have been associated with an increased risk of melanoma and worse overall survival (time from treatment until death from any cause). However, this association is not well understood.

The objective of this study was to investigate if the initial concentration and the change in levels of vitamin D were associated with melanoma prognosis. 252 melanoma patients with at least one vitamin D measurement within one year after diagnosis were enrolled in this study.

Patients with lower levels of vitamin D, higher cancer stage and ulceration were 93% more at risk of a worse melanoma prognosis. Patients with metastatic melanoma with low levels of vitamin D had 2.06 times the risk of melanoma-related mortality. Patients who had initially a low level of vitamin D and had a decrease or an increase of 20 ng/mL or more were at 4.68 more at risk of worse outcomes.

This study suggested that initial low levels of vitamin D were associated with a worse prognosis in patients with metastatic melanoma.