Vitamin D deficiency, incidence, and response to oral supplementation among various gastrointestinal malignancies
9586 Background: Vitamin (vit) D dficiency is prevalent amongst patients (pts) with colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Data for other GI malignancies are limited and the impact of short-course vit D supplementation is unclear. Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective review of 202 pts with GI cancers from 12/2007 to 9/2008 was done to evaluate the incidence of vitamin D deficiency defined as serum 25-OH vit D levels of ≤ 30 ng/ml (severe=<10 ng/ml; moderate=10–20 ng/ml; mild=21–30 ng/ml) and incidence of ‘low-normal' (31–50 ng/ml) and normal (>50 ng/ml) vit D levels. Oral supplementation with vit D at 50,000 ‘u' weekly x 8–12 weeks were done and serum levels were redrawn at 2–3 months for pts with low normal and deficient vit D, respectively. Results: 87.6% of all 202 pts is vit D deficient (61% severe to moderate). (see Table ). 92 pts were re-evaluated after 2–3 months of oral vit D supplementation. Among this cohort, the incidence of pts with vitamin deficiency decreased from 91.3% to 57.6% after first re- evaluation. Severe/moderate deficiency rates also decreased from 71.7% to 13%. There were no significant difference in response between males/females, age < or ≥ 65, caucasian or non-caucasian or tumor type. Conclusions: Vitamin D levels should routinely be evaluated for patients with GI maligancies. Oral supplementation decreases the rate 'any' vit D deficiency from 91% to 57%, and of 'severe to moderate' deficiency from 72% to 13%. Prospective studies on the impact of vit D deficiency and supplementation on various clinical outcomes among patients with GI cancers would improve supportive care management of these patients. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.