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Vitamin D deficiency in Sydney skin cancer patients

Anna-Marie McCombie, Rebecca S Mason and Diona L Damian
Med J Aust 2009; 190 (2): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02297.x
Published online: 19 January 2009

To the Editor: In addition to its well established link with rickets and osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of autoimmune, malignant and cardiovascular disease.1 Marginal deficiency occurs at serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels of 25–50 nmol/L and frank deficiency at levels < 25 nmol/L,2 but there is some evidence that levels < 80 nmol/L3 or even < 110 nmol/L2 could be suboptimal. In Australia, vitamin D deficiency is most frequent in nursing home residents, dark-skinned veiled women, and residents of southern latitudes.2 However, those who are instructed to habitually minimise sun exposure following a diagnosis of skin cancer may also be at particular risk.


  • University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.



Acknowledgements: 

We are most grateful for the participation of our volunteers. This study was supported by a Cancer Institute New South Wales Career Development and Support Fellowship (Diona Damian).

  • 1. Holick MF, Chen TC. Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. Am J Clin Nutr 2008; 87: 1080S-1086S.
  • 2. Diamond TH, Eisman JA, Mason RS, et al; Working Group of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Endocrine Society of Australia and Osteoporosis Australia. Vitamin D and adult bone health in Australia and New Zealand: a position statement. Med J Aust 2005; 182: 281-285. <MJA full text>
  • 3. Dawson-Hughes B, Heaney RP, Holick MF, et al. Estimates of optimal vitamin D status. Osteoporos Int 2005; 16: 713-716.
  • 4. Hollis BW. The determination of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D: no easy task [editorial]. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004; 89: 3149-3151.

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