Subgroup analyses in the observational studies indicated that risk of mortality was significantly higher in studies with lower baseline use of vitamin D supplements .
The effects observed for vitamin D3 supplementation remained unchanged when grouped by various characteristics .
However , for vitamin D2 supplementation , increased risks of mortality were observed in studies with lower intervention doses and shorter average intervention periods .
Conclusions Evidence from observational studies indicates inverse associations of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D with risks of death due to cardiovascular disease , cancer , and other causes .
Objective To evaluate the extent to which circulating biomarker and supplements of vitamin D are associated with  mortality from cardiovascular , cancer , or other conditions  , under various circumstances .
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels are associated with breslow thickness at presentation and survival from melanoma.
PURPOSE A cohort study was carried out to test the hypothesis that higher vitamin D levels reduce the risk of relapse from melanoma . METHODS A pilot retrospective study of 271 patients with melanoma suggested that vitamin D may protect against recurrence of melanoma . We tested these findings in a survival analysis in a cohort of 872 patients recruited to the Leeds Melanoma Cohort ( median follow-up , 4.7 years ) . RESULTS In the retrospective study , self-reports of taking vitamin D supplements were nonsignificantly correlated with a reduced risk of melanoma relapse ( odds ratio = 0.6 ; 95 % CI , 0.4 to 1.1 ; P = .09 ) . Nonrelapsers had higher mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3 ) levels than relapsers ( 49 v 46 nmol/L ; P = .3 ; not statistically significant ) . In the cohort ( prospect i ve ) study , higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3 ) levels were associated with lower Breslow thickness at diagnosis ( P = .002 ) and were independently protective of relapse and death : the hazard ratio for relapse-free survival ( RFS ) was 0.79 ( 95 % CI , 0.64 to 0.96 ; P = .01 ) for a 20 nmol/L increase in serum level . There was evidence of interaction between the vitamin D receptor ( VDR ) BsmI genotype and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3 ) levels on RFS . CONCLUSION Results from the retrospective study were consistent with a role for vitamin D in melanoma outcome . The cohort study tests this hypothesis , providing evidence that higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3 ) levels , at diagnosis , are associated with both thinner tumors and better survival from melanoma , independent of Breslow thickness . Patients with melanoma , and those at high risk of melanoma , should seek to ensure vitamin D sufficiency . Additional studies are needed to establish optimal serum levels for patients with melanoma
Subgroup analyses in the observational studies indicated that risk of mortality was significantly higher in studies with lower baseline use of vitamin D supplements .
The effects observed for vitamin D3 supplementation remained unchanged when grouped by various characteristics .
However , for vitamin D2 supplementation , increased risks of mortality were observed in studies with lower intervention doses and shorter average intervention periods .
Conclusions Evidence from observational studies indicates inverse associations of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D with risks of death due to cardiovascular disease , cancer , and other causes .
Objective To evaluate the extent to which circulating biomarker and supplements of vitamin D are associated with  mortality from cardiovascular , cancer , or other conditions  , under various circumstances .