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Review
. 2024 Apr 27;25(9):4773.
doi: 10.3390/ijms25094773.

Vitamin Nutritional Status in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer: A Narrative Review

Elena Azzini  1 , Tiziano Furini  2 , Angela Polito  1 , Luca Scalfi  3 , Alessandro Pinto  4 , Valeria Gasperi  2 , Isabella Savini  2 , On Behalf Of The Sinu Nutrition In Oncology Working Group
Affiliations
Review

Vitamin Nutritional Status in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer: A Narrative Review

Elena Azzini et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Due to the high mortality rate in Western countries, pancreatic cancer is considered one of the big killers, leaving patients and their families with little hope upon diagnosis. Although surgical and drug therapies are critical for cancer patients to improve life expectancy and alleviation of suffering, nutrition plays a key role in improving cancer treatment outcomes. This narrative review, conducted as part of the activities of the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU) working group in oncology, focuses on the prevalence of vitamin malnutrition among pancreatic cancer patients. The results of the literature search show that pancreatic cancer patients are at a heightened risk of water-soluble vitamin deficiencies, particularly of vitamins B1, B3, and B6. Additionally, they also face an increased risk of deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins. Among these vitamins, the potential role of vitamin D in pancreatic cancer has garnered the most attention, with its plasma levels being identified as a significant factor in patient survival. Investigating vitamin nutritional status could provide valuable insights for incorporating nutritional approaches into the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer, thereby reducing the exacerbation of symptoms associated with the diagnosis.

Keywords: fat-soluble vitamins; pancreatic cancer; vitamin nutritional status; water-soluble vitamins.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Some consequences of water-soluble vitamin deficiencies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Post-pancreatectomy vitamin deficiencies due to pancreatic insufficiency.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The vicious cycle of fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies in pancreatic cancer.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Possible vitamin D deregulation by CYP24A1 in PaC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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