Vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of malignant diseases

Abstract:

In recent years, vitamin D has come to focus for its possible role in prevention and treatment of various extraskeletal diseases like malignant tumors. Its role as a regulator of numerous physiological functions has therefor achieved additional meaning. In different trials so far, it has been shown that the metabolism as well as function of vitamin D are regulated differently in different cancer types, which might be responsible for creating resistance to its antitumor effect, thus contributing to the development and progression of malignant tumors. Getting better knowledge and understanding of the altered vitamin D metabolism and its function in tumor cells becomes crucial for developing strategies of its successful application against cancer. Hence, there are still many controversies about vitamin D application and as the result yet there are no official recommendations for its use in the treatment and prevention of oncological diseases.

Key words:
carcinoma; metabolism; prevention; vitamin D