維生素D與癌症的檢視

Vitamin D and Cancer

維生素D不只是一種維生素，其呈活性的類固醇荷爾蒙calcitriol （維生素D3），可以對全身器官產生作用。Calcitriol可以調整許多細胞的功用，其中對癌症發生的風險和預後有正面的關連，因其具有抗發炎、抑制癌細胞增殖、分化、增加自然凋亡、抗血管增生和抑制癌細胞轉移的效果。許多研究認為，血清中25(OH)D 濃度低時，會增加大腸癌、乳癌、卵巢癌和黑色素瘤的發生，且預後較差。補充維生素D在經濟上和安全上，可減少這類癌症的發生，並改善其治療的結果。

Vitamin D is not really a vitamin but the precursor to the potent steroid hormone calcitriol, which has widespread actions throughout the body. Calcitriol regulates multiple cellular functions that could have a role in determining cancer risk and prognosis, including anti-inflammatory effects and also inhibits proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastatic potential. Several studies have now shown that low serum 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with colorectal, breast and ovarian cancer, and melanoma with an increased risk of development of the disease and a relatively poor prognosis. Adding vitamin D supplements might be an economical and safe management to reduce cancer incidence and improve cancer prognosis and outcome.