Vitamin D deficiency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchogenic carcinoma

Rationale Vitamin D has been known to have an important role as an anti-inflammatory agent and immune modulator. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of vitamin D deficiency on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchogenic carcinoma. Patients and methods The study population consisted of 58 patients. All were male patients and were divided into two groups: group A consisted of patients with COPD (n=30) [diagnosed by history, examination and pulmonary function testing and further evaluated by BMI, 6 min walk test and oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter (SpO2)] and group B (n=28) consisted of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma not having COPD (diagnosed by history, examination, pulmonary function testing to exclude COPD, computed tomography chest and biopsy, which was obtained through fibreoptic bronchoscopy, ultrasound guided or computed tomography guided). All were tested for 25-OH vitamin D3/D2. Results The relation between vitamin D deficiency and COPD severity was studied, revealing no statistically significant correlation. The relation between vitamin D deficiency and bronchogenic carcinoma revealed a statistically significant correlation. Although vitamin D deficiency was not statistically significant among different histological types of bronchogenic carcinoma, vitamin D level (mean±SD: 53.15±17.61) was higher in squamous cell carcinoma than that found in small cell cancer (30.32±14.83) and adenocarcinoma (22.75±8.67). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency has been known to have an impact on the respiratory system. We were not able to find a relation linking COPD to vitamin D deficiency. However vitamin D deficiency seemed to be more related to the development of bronchogenic carcinoma. Although the type of bronchogenic carcinoma did not show statistical significance regarding deficiency of vitamin D. Squamous cell carcinoma patients didn't show deficiency in contrast to other types. Vitamin D deficiency seemed related to bronchogenic carcinoma more than it is to COPD.