Title:The Role of Vitamin D in Gastrointestinal Diseases: Inflammation,
Gastric Cancer, and Colorectal Cancer
Volume: 29
Issue: 22
Author(s): Yao Chen, Jue Hou, Zhangang Xiao, Yueshui Zhao, Fukuan Du, Xu Wu, Mingxing Li, Yu Chen, Lin Zhang, Chi Hin Cho, Qinglian Wen*, Wei Hu*Jing Shen*
Affiliation:
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated
Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan646000, P.R. China
- Department of
Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest
Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
- South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine,
Luzhou, Sichuan, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Personalised Cell Therapy and Cell medicines, School of Pharmacy,
Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, P.R. China
Keywords:
Vitamin D, metabolism, innate immunity, antimicrobial peptide, inflammation, gastrointestinal cancer.
Abstract: Vitamin D as a prohormone is converted into the active form in vivo and binds
to vitamin D receptors, exercising a wide range of biological functions. Recent studies
strongly support that vitamin D supplementation is associated with reduced cancer risk
and a good prognosis. Gastrointestinal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related
deaths worldwide. The key role of vitamin D in the development of gastrointestinal cancer
has been observed. Moreover, Vitamin D can also affect innate immunity and perform
anti-inflammation and anti-infection actions. Given the intimate relationship between
cancer and inflammation, we herein summarize epidemiological and preclinical
studies of vitamin D and the underlying mechanism of its action in inflammation, gastric
and colorectal cancer by our group and other researchers. A beneficial effect of vitamin
D in cancer and inflammatory disease has been supported by different studies. More controlled
and larger clinical trials are needed before a reliable conclusion and realization of
vitamin D supplementation in the adjunct treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation and
cancer.