Investigating the effects of vitamin D3 on clinical outcomes in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia

Tahmidul Islam; Sabrina Alam; Naila Atik Khan; Mahbuba Sharmin; Nasrin Akhtar; Kazi M. Kamrul Islam; Umme Sahera

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20250232

Authors

Tahmidul Islam Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Sabrina Alam Department of Biochemistry, TMSS Medical College, Bogura, Bangladesh
Naila Atik Khan Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Mahbuba Sharmin Department of Haematology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nasrin Akhtar Department of Haematology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Kazi M. Kamrul Islam Department of Haematology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Umme Sahera Department of Virology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20250232

Keywords:

Acute myeloid leukemia, Vitamin D3 supplementation, Remission rates, Quality of life, Hematologic malignancy, Overall survival

Abstract

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy with poor prognosis. This study investigates the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on clinical outcomes in newly diagnosed AML patients. To evaluate the impact of vitamin D3 on remission rates, overall survival and quality of life in AML patients.

Methods: A hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2017, involving 145 newly diagnosed AML patients. Participants were divided into an intervention group receiving standard chemotherapy with oral vitamin D3 supplements and a control group receiving only chemotherapy. Clinical and biochemical assessments, including serum vitamin D3 levels, were performed at baseline and monthly for six months. Outcomes measured included remission rates, overall survival and quality of life scores.

Results: The intervention group exhibited higher complete remission rates (69.4% vs. 56.2%, p=0.035) and improved overall survival (median survival of 18.2 months vs. 12.5 months, p=0.045). Quality of life scores were significantly better in the intervention group across multiple domains. Serum vitamin D3 levels increased significantly after three and six months of supplementation (p<0.001). The incidence of adverse effects was similar between groups.

Conclusions: Vitamin D3 supplementation positively influences remission rates, overall survival and quality of life in newly diagnosed AML patients, suggesting its potential role as an adjunct therapy. Further large-scale, multi-center trials are needed to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms behind the effects of vitamin D3 on AML.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Döhner H, Weisdorf DJ, Bloomfield CD. Acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(12):1136-52.

Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

Liu Y, Zhang Y, Jiang L. The role of vitamin D in regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Med. 2015;4(2):209-16.

Sutherland HJ, Hitzler JK, Furlong W. Vitamin D: A potential therapeutic agent in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Biol Ther. 2014;15(3):338-46.

Ma Y, Wang Y, Yang J. Serum vitamin D levels are associated with chemotherapy resistance in acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 2016;57(4):798-802.

Wacker M, Holick MF. Sunlight and Vitamin D: A global perspective for health. Dermatoendocrinol. 2013;5(1):51-108.

Razzak A, Ayub S, Nasir M. Vitamin D3 as an adjunctive therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: A systematic review. Hematol Oncol. 2018;36(2):270-9.

Eberle C, Pöhls M, Reiter A. The impact of vitamin D on the outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Res. 2014;38(8):934-8.

Sutherland HJ, Hitzler JK, Furlong W. Vitamin D: A potential therapeutic agent in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Biol Ther. 2014;15(3):338-46.

Liu Y, Zhang Y, Jiang L. The role of vitamin D in regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Med. 2015;4(2):209-16.

Döhner H, Weisdorf DJ, Bloomfield CD. Acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(12):1136-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1406184

Ma Y, Wang Y, Yang J. Serum vitamin D levels are associated with chemotherapy resistance in acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 2016;57(4):798-802.

Wacker M, Holick MF. Sunlight and Vitamin D: A global perspective for health. Dermatoendocrinol. 2013;5(1):51-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.24494

Razzak A, Ayub S, Nasir M. Vitamin D3 as an adjunctive therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: A systematic review. Hematol Oncol. 2018;36(2):270-9.

Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra070553

Eberle C, Pöhls M, Reiter A. The impact of vitamin D on the outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Res. 2014;38(8):934-8.

Koury J, Sadeghi M, McKenzie S. The relationship of vitamin D status to quality of life in cancer patients. Nutr Cancer. 2016;68(7):1113-8.

Reddy S, Rosen J, Hill J. Vitamin D and cancer outcomes: A review of the epidemiological evidence. Cancer Causes Control. 2014;25(12):1749-64.

Tzeng C-M, Lin J-Y, Hsiao J-R. The relationship between vitamin D levels and quality of life in patients with breast cancer: A preliminary report. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(1):182-8.

Kauffman M, Cernik C, Turek J. The effect of vitamin D on quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease: A pilot study. Qual Life Res. 2013;22(4):859-65.

Kim H, Yoon JH, Kim HK. Limitations of observational studies in vitamin D and cancer: Implications for public health. J Nutr Biochem. 2015;26(11):1101-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2014.07.003

Haq A, Tizabi Y. Effects of vitamin D3 on cancer cell proliferation and growth: A review. Am J Biomed Sci. 2016;8(3):113-22.

Hossain M, Ahsan A, Rahman A. Vitamin D3: A potential adjunctive treatment for patients with hematologic malignancies. Blood Rev. 2017;31(2):153-61.

Bhanushali A, Pande M, Dhamne B. Vitamin D deficiency in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: Correlation with clinical outcomes. Leuk Res. 2015;39(12):186-91.

O’Sullivan A, McCarthy M, Behan J. Vitamin D deficiency in acute myeloid leukemia: A preliminary report. Leukemia. 2015;29(10):1990-3.