Low Vitamin D Common at Diagnosis With NHL-DLBCL, MM, and CLL

Low levels of serum vitamin D were observed in the majority of patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin lymphoma/diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (NHL-DLBCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma (MM) in a study published online in the Journal of International Medical Research. 

“Because the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency appears to be high in different hematological malignancies, further studies evaluating the impact of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels on treatment and survival as well as prevention of secondary neoplasms is needed,” researchers wrote. 

The study included 34 patients newly diagnosed with NHL-DLBCL, 32 patients newly diagnosed with CLL, and 37 patients newly diagnosed with MM. Before treatment initiation, researchers measured serum levels of vitamin D.  

All 103 patients in the study had suboptimal serum vitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL, researchers reported. In fact, just 14 patients had levels between 20 and 30 ng/mL. Levels were below 20 ng/mL in 89 patients. 

Severe vitamin D deficiency below 10 ng/mL was observed in 32.3% of patients with NHL-DLBCL, 28.1% of patients with CLL, and 81% of patients with MM, according to the study. 

“Our study was limited in power because of the low number of patients included in each group and the lack of a control group of healthy individuals,” researchers wrote. “Our results warrant further evaluation in other prospective studies, ideally using a large number of patients and a matched healthy control group.” 

—Jolynn Tumolo 

Reference:

Graklanov V, Popov V. Vitamin D levels in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma/diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. J Int Med Res. 2020;48(7):300060520943421. doi:10.1177/0300060520943421