Pancreatic Cancer
The Incidental Use of High-Dose Vitamin D3 in Pancreatic Cancer
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is associated with a very poor prognosis, with a 5 year survival of
*7.2%. Vitamin D has long been evaluated for benefit as a protective agent and treatment for malignancies.
Although cancer incidence and outcomes have been tied to vitamin D levels, there is no clear evidence that
supplementation of vitamin D improves outcome in pancreatic cancer to date.
Case Presentation: We present a patient who errantly took supratherapeutic doses of vitamin D 50,000 U daily,
achieving a serum 25(OH)D level of more than 150 mg/mL, with no appreciable side effects.
Conclusion: Her disease was stable for 8 months off of conventional treatment, although it is unclear whether
this was related to vitamin D supplementation.
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is associated with a very poor prognosis, with a 5 year survival of
*7.2%. Vitamin D has long been evaluated for benefit as a protective agent and treatment for malignancies.
Although cancer incidence and outcomes have been tied to vitamin D levels, there is no clear evidence that
supplementation of vitamin D improves outcome in pancreatic cancer to date.
Case Presentation: We present a patient who errantly took supratherapeutic doses of vitamin D 50,000 U daily,
achieving a serum 25(OH)D level of more than 150 mg/mL, with no appreciable side effects.
Conclusion: Her disease was stable for 8 months off of conventional treatment, although it is unclear whether
this was related to vitamin D supplementation.
