Gender‐ and site‐specific differences of colorectal neoplasia relate to vitamin D

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics 2014-12, Vol.40 (11-12), p.1341-1348
• Main Authors: Aigner, E., Stadlmayr, A., Huber‐Schönauer, U., Zwerina, J., Husar‐Memmer, E., Niederseer, D., Trauner, M., Heuberger, A., Hohla, F., Schett, G., Patsch, W., Datz, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenoma - blood; Adenoma - pathology; Adenoma - prevention & control; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Colorectal Neoplasms - blood; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - prevention & control; Dietary Supplements; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Risk Factors; Sex Characteristics; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors; Vitamin D - administration & dosage; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/apt.12981

Summary Background The effect of vitamin D on colorectal adenomas may vary with regard to gender, localisation and histological type of the lesion. Aim To define the role of vitamin D and gender in a Caucasian cohort of subjects undergoing screening colonoscopy after consideration of established risk factors. Methods One thousand five hundred and thirty‐two subjects (813 males, 58.8 ± 9.7 years; 719 females, 59.7 ± 10.7 years) were allocated to tertiles of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] serum concentrations. The number, localisation, size and histology of the detected colonic lesions were recorded. Results Among men, no association was found between vitamin D and the total number, size and histological stage of adenomas at any site. In female subjects, less women with adenomas were found in the highest vitamin D tertile (N = 42/239; 17.2%) as compared to the low vitamin D group (N = 60/240; 25.0%; P = 0.035). In particular, the number of women with adenomas in the proximal colon was significantly lower in the highest tertile (N = 21/239, 8.8%) compared to the low vitamin D group (N = 41/240; 17.1%; P = 0.007). The rates at other sites were not different. The inverse association of vitamin D serum concentrations with the presence of adenomas in the proximal colon was maintained after adjustment for potential confounders. In 80 women on vitamin D supplementation, the rate of adenomas was lower compared to those not on supplementation (3/80; 3.8%; vs. 90/719; 12.5%; P = 0.016). Conclusions A potential preventive effect of vitamin D on colorectal adenomas was found in the proximal colon in women. This observation is supported by further decrease of lesions in the proximal colon of women on vitamin D supplementation.