Prospective study of predictors of vitamin D status and cancer incidence and mortality in men

Abstract

especially against digestive-system cancers. Many human studies have used geographic residence as a marker of solar ultraviolet B and hence vitamin D exposure. Here, we consid-ered multiple determinants of vitamin D exposure (dietary and supplementary vitamin D, skin pigmentation, adiposity, geographic residence, and leisure-time physical activity — to estimate sunlight exposure) in relation to cancer risk in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Methods: Among 1095 men of this cohort, we quantifi ed the relation of these six deter-minants to plasma 25- hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] level by use of a multiple linear regression model. We used results from the model to compute a predicted 25(OH)D level for each of 47 800 men in the cohort based on these charac teristics. We then prospectively examined this variable in relation to cancer risk with multivariable Cox proportional hazards models