Vitamin D receptor gene links differed across digestive cancers
A review found associations between some inherited receptor variants and stomach or colorectal cancer, while findings for esophageal cancer were not statistically significant.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Some vitamin D receptor gene variants were associated with stomach or colorectal cancer, but the pattern depended on the variant and cancer site. These findings concern genetic associations. They do not establish that the variants cause cancer, or show whether changing vitamin D intake would alter anyone's cancer risk.
This abstract-based summary cannot assess the precision of the reported odds ratios because their confidence intervals are omitted. The authors also report differences by age and region and call for validation across diverse populations.
The pattern was selective
The review linked FokI and TaqI variants with stomach cancer and BsmI with colorectal cancer. It did not detect significant associations for Cdx2 or for esophageal cancer; that does not establish an absence of any relationship.
What the study can answer
Pooling genetic association studies can identify recurring patterns across datasets. Here, the reported differences between cancer sites and population subgroups limit any simple overall message, and the analysis did not test vitamin D supplementation.
The original publication
Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in gastrointestinal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wang H, Yang Y, Du J
Pathol Res Pract · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40784088
- Record checked
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