High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Bone Tumors

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with different types of bone tumors and to elucidate whether or not there are differences in prediagnostic vitamin D levels in patients with malignant compared to benign bone tumors. Prediagnostic serum 25(OH)D levels of 105 consecutive patients that presented with bone tumors and tumor-like lesions to two Orthopedic Level I University Centers in Germany between 2011 and 2016 were measured on admission. We found an alarming and widespread rate of vitamin D deficiency in patients with bone tumors. Specifically, 83% of all patients had low vitamin D levels with a mean 25(OH)D level of 19.82 ng/ml. Notably, patients diagnosed with malignant bone tumors had significantly lower vitamin D levels compared to patients with benign bone lesions (p = 0.0008). In conclusion, it is essential to assess vitamin D levels in patients with tumors involving bone. In addition, there might be an association between vitamin D deficiency and the onset or course of primary malignant bone tumors.

KEYWORDS:

• Bone tumor
• Hypovitaminosis D
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Malignancy
• primary bone tumors

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

This work has in part been supported by the German Research Foundation (SKELMET FOR1586; Prof L. Hofbauer HO1875/16-1).