Importance of vitamin D in cancer management

Abstract

Vitamin D is essential element for growth and development of bones. The receptor of the metabolite of vitamin D known as “nuclear calcitriol” have been identified in tissues and is responsible for playing a wide range of biological processes. Calcidiol [25(OH) D3] corresponds to the storage space and the chief flowing metabolite of vitamin D3. Calcitriol 1-α-25-dihydroxycholecalciferol is formed in the kidney. Deficiency of vitamin D and lack of sun exposure has been found to cause unceasing illnesses together with various lethal cancers. At cellular level the mechanism of anticancer action of vitamin D has not been entirely implicated. For the setting off and regulation of particular genes, calcitriol-VDR-RXR complex attach to definite DNA fragments called as vitamin D response elements (VDREs). After binding with VDR, calcitriol performs its function by regulating the function of over and above 60 genes providing direction for antiproliferative, prodifferentiating and antimetastatic effects on cells to result in antiangiogenic property. Vitamin D deficiency is evaluated as level of calcidiol less than 20ng/mL, shortage to the level of 21-29 ng/mL, and adequacy level is 30ng/mL.