Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and Risk of Lung Cancer: A Meta-epidedmiological Meta-analysis
Author(s): Jong-Myon Bae
Background: Five previous systematic reviews (SR) evaluating the hypothesis that serum vitamin D deficiency was associated with risk of lung cancer showed unstable and uncertain results. Especially antipathic relative risks (RR) of selected articles as well as missed articles were found among them.
Objective: The aim of this SR was to conduct a meta-epidemiolgical meta-analysis (MEMA) based on them.
Methods: Using citation discovery tools, additional articles were selected from cited lists based on 16 selected articles. Fixed effect model was applied if I2 value was less than 50%. A publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s test.
Results: Of 13 articles, the summary RRs (and their 95% confidence intervals) (I2 value) were 1.17 (1.09, 1.26) (18.3%). The sRR from 10 articles adjusted for sex and 12 articles adjusted for smoking habits showed stable RRs with keeping the statistical significance. Egger’s test showed no publication bias.
Conclusion: This MEMA supported the lower level of serum vitamin D was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.
Impact: This might be an evidence for conducting some public health programs against vitamin D deficiency status in order to prevent lung cancer.