Serum vitamin D levels correlate with the presence and histological grading of colorectal adenomas in peri and postmenopausal women

Summary Background & aims Vitamin D is known to modulate immune function and proliferation. Higher vitamin D [25(OH)D 3 ] serum levels have been reported to have protective effects on adenoma detection and colorectal cancer (CRC) development and survival. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 315 peri and post-menopausal women submitted to opportunistic colorectal and osteoporosis screening at the gynaecology outpatient clinic of a tertiary medical centre between 2004 and 2015. Colonoscopy findings were correlated with 25(OH)D 3 and PTH serum levels, and subsequently adjusted in a multivariate logistic regression model. Confounding factors included demographic and colorectal risk factors, pharmacological therapies and bone densitometry metrics. Results A total of 77 lesions were identified in 66 patients. Vitamin D insufficiency ( 3 were associated with polyp, adenoma and advanced adenoma detection. After adjusting for confounders, an association with polyps could not be observed, but a trend towards a negative correlation with adenoma detection was found (adjusted OR: 0.96; 95% CI 0.92–1.00; p = 0.083). Regarding advanced adenoma detection, 25(OH)D 3 (adjusted OR: 0.86; 95% CI 0.77–0.97; p = 0.013) proved to be an independent predictive factor. No association was found between 25(OH)D 3 levels and lesion detection site. Conclusion The association of 25(OH)D 3 serum levels with colorectal lesions seems to be restricted to adenomatous lesions and is influenced by histological grading. Vitamin D may be a valuable biomarker for optimization of risk stratification in group-specific CRC screening protocols.