Vitamin D Status and Development of Cancer after Renal Transplant.

In a study involving 363 renal transplant recipients, pre-transplant levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D3) were found to be an important predictor of the development of cancer post-transplant. Of the patients, 34% were vitamin D deficient, 51% were vitamin D insufficient, and 15% had normal vitamin D levels. Cancer occurred in 32 patients (9%). Results found a higher incidence of cancer in patients with vitamin D deficiency (13.7%), compared to 7% among patients with vitamin D insufficiency, and 3.7% among those with normal vitamin D status. Low 25(OH)D3 level was found to be an independent risk factor for development of cancer (hazard ratio: 1.12 for every 1 ng/mL decrease), as was age (HR: 1.06). The authors conclude, "Future studies should examine whether 25-OH-D3 supplementation can effectively decrease the incidence of cancer in RTRs." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]