Vitamin D: Pharmacokinetics and Safety When Used in Conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Drugs Used in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

• Main Authors: Dugald Seely, Tara Campbell, Heidi Fritz, Becky Skidmore, Deborah A. Kennedy, Kieran Cooley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2013-03-01
• Series: Cancers
• Subjects: vitamin D; calcitriol; pharmacokinetics; drug interactions; systematic review
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/5/1/255

Vitamin D has reported anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties modulated through gene transcription and non-genomic signaling cascades. The purpose of this review was to summarize the available research on interactions and pharmacokinetics between vitamin D and the pharmaceutical drugs used in patients with cancer. Hypercalcemia was the most frequently reported side effect that occurred in high dose calcitriol. The half-life of 25(OH)D3 and/or 1,25(OH)2D3 was found to be impacted by cimetidine; rosuvastatin; prednisone and possibly some chemotherapy drugs. No unusual adverse effects in cancer patients; beyond what is expected from high dose 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation, were revealed through this review. While sufficient evidence is lacking, supplementation with 1,25(OH)2D3 during chemotherapy appears to have a low risk of interaction. Further interactions with vitamin D3 have not been studied.