Sponsor
The authors thank Analytic Galaxy, and the Clinical Outcomes Research and Education at Roseman University College of Dental Medicine for the support of this study.
Published In
Nutrients
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-2023
Subjects
Oral carcinogenesis, Nutrition, Clinical outcomes, Evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based dentistry
Abstract
Introduction: Oral cancer is a serious health problem with an increasing incidence worldwide. Researchers have studied the potential anti-cancerous action of vitamin D and its association with several cancers including oral cancer. The purpose of this scoping review is to synthesize the existing literature on the role of vitamin D on oral cancer. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was conducted using the framework developed by Arkey and O’Malley and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Nine databases were searched for peer-reviewed human studies published in English that either investigated the association of vitamin D with, or its impact on either the prevention or treatment of oral cancer. The authors then extracted data using a predefined form to summarize information about article type, study design, participant characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Results: Fifteen articles met the review criteria. Among the 15 studies, 11 were case–control, 3 were cohort studies, and 1 was a clinical trial. In four studies, the evidence supported a preventive action of vitamin D against oral cancer and a reduction in the negative side effects associated with chemo- and radiotherapy. Several studies that focused on genetic polymorphisms and the expression of the 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor (VDR) suggested significant associations with vitamin D and increased oral cancer risk and worse survival rates. In contrast, two studies did not reveal a strong association between vitamin D and oral cancer. Conclusions: The current evidence suggests an association between vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of oral cancer. VDR gene polymorphisms might also be a part of future preventive and therapeutic strategies against oral cancer. Carefully designed studies are required to explore and define what role, if any, vitamin D might play in the prevention and treatment of oral cancer.
Rights
Copyright (c) 2023 The Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Locate the Document
DOI
10.3390/nu15102346
Persistent Identifier
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/aging_pub/128
Citation Details
Hung, M., Almpani, K., Thao, B., Sudweeks, K., & Lipsky, M. S. (2023). Vitamin D in the Prevention and Treatment of Oral Cancer: A Scoping Review. Nutrients, 15(10), 2346.