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Mapping the Landscape of Vitamin D in Cancer Studies: A Systematic Global Investigation Publisher



Faryabi A1 ; Salari MA2 ; Dalvand A3 ; Akbarniakhaky H4 ; Mohammadi G4 ; Aazami H4 ; Razi F4 ; Dehghanbanadaki H4
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
  3. 3. Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Metabolomics and Genomics Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular - Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Published:2025


Abstract

Purpose: This comprehensive study examines the multifaceted relationship between vitamin D and cancer, synthesizing key scientific advancements and global research trends to guide future investigations and address critical gaps in the field. Methods: Publications on vitamin D and cancer were retrieved from Scopus up to November 2024. English-language original and review articles were analyzed using Excel, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica, focusing on publication trends, citation impacts, and research themes. Results: A total of 11,442 publications (80.01% original articles, 19.98% reviews; 51.24% open access) were analyzed. The United States of America led in publications (38.3%) and citations (56.2%), followed by China (7.7%) and the United Kingdom (7.2%) in output, and the United Kingdom (10.6%) and Germany (6.4%) in citations. Countries with the highest citations per document were Belgium (103.4), Slovenia (87.9), and Puerto Rico (76.6). The most frequently studied cancers in relation to vitamin D were breast, colorectal, prostate, skin, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, gastric, hepatocellular, thyroid, leukemia, multiple myeloma, bladder, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, cervical, endometrial, and glioblastoma, respectively. Cluster analysis revealed key patterns related to vitamin D: Calcitriol’s chemopreventive role in breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers, dietary vitamin D for its involvement in ovarian cancer, vitamin D for regulation of cancer-related hypercalcemia, vitamin D deficiency links to inflammation-obesity-cancer risk, VDR polymorphisms affecting outcomes in lung and colorectal cancers, and vitamin D’s photoprotective effects on skin malignancies, and vitamin D in ulcerative colitis-related cancer. The most cited articles emphasized optimal vitamin D levels and cancer prevention. Conclusion: This study highlights the extensive research on vitamin D and its complex links to cancer, emphasizing future prospects with a focus on precision medicine approaches, including targeted supplementation and genomic analyses, to better address individual variability in cancer prevention and treatment. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2025.
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