Many cases of leukemia across the globe may be caused by vitamin D deficiency as a result of low sunlight exposure. This is the conclusion of a new study published in PLOS One. Show
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells, most commonly affecting the white blood cells, or leukocytes, that help fight infection. There were around 352,000 new cases of leukemia diagnosed worldwide in 2012, and last year, more than 54,000 cases of the cancer were diagnosed in the US alone. While scientists are still unsure of the exact causes of leukemia, genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role. A number of studies have shown that vitamin D metabolites in the blood – known as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or 25(OH)D, which is an indicator of the body’s vitamin D levels – interact with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. What is more, some studies have identified low vitamin D levels in patients with AML. While vitamin D is found in some foods, including oily fish, cheese and egg yolks, it is present in small amounts. The body’s best source of vitamin D is sunlight; ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from the sun penetrates bare skin, inducing vitamin D synthesis. In this latest study, coauthor Cedric Garland, adjunct professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California-San Diego, and colleagues set out to investigate whether low UVB exposure and low vitamin D levels are associated with leukemia risk. Garland and colleagues analyzed data from the International Agency for Cancer Research’s (IARC) Global Cancer (GLOBOCAN) 2012 database. Fast facts about leukemia
Learn more about leukemia The team looked at the age-adjusted leukemia incidence rates for 172 countries, and the cloud cover-adjusted UVB irradiance for each country was assessed using data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project. The researchers found that individuals living in countries farther away from the equator, such as the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland, were at least twice as likely to have leukemia as people living in countries closes to the equator, such as Nigeria, Bolivia, Samoa and Madagascar. The association remained after accounting for sex-specific life expectancy and altitude, according to the authors. The team explains that individuals who live farther away from the equator are exposed to solar energy that has traveled farther through the Earth’s atmosphere, which reduces the amount of UVB radiation that reaches the skin. As such, the researchers say it is “plausible” that much of the leukemia burden across the globe is a result of low vitamin D levels caused by low UVB exposure. “Skin photosynthesis accounts for a large proportion of 25(OH)D concentration. As a result, the inverse association between cloud-adjusted solar UVB exposure and incidence rates is likely to be mediated by circulating 25(OH)D, which is highly dependent on solar UVB irradiance,” they explain, adding:
While the team says some key strengths of their study are the inclusion of thousands of leukemia cases from hundreds of countries and the fact the findings are consistent with results from previous studies, they admit there are some limitations. For example, they were unable to control for other factors that may fuel differences in leukemia risk between countries. “Some of these confounders may be very influential on risk for leukemia,” they note. Still, Garland and colleagues believe the association between low UVB exposure, low vitamin D levels and leukemia warrants further investigation. While vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a number of health problems, a recent study reported by Medical News Today suggests higher monthly doses of the vitamin may increase the risk of falls among seniors. White blood cells, also called leukocytes, fight infection. They move throughout your body in your blood, looking for invaders. And your body is continuously making a fresh supply. Your doctor measures how many of these
cells you have by sending some of your blood to a lab to do a complete blood count, or CBC. Your white blood cell count is one of the numbers you get back from this test. It may point toward or confirm a diagnosis, or show whether a treatment is working or not. Most often, a low white blood cell count is nothing to worry about. How many white blood cells (WBCs) someone has varies, but the normal range is usually
between 4,000 and 11,000 per microliter of blood. A blood test that shows a WBC count of less than 4,000 per microliter (some labs say less than 4,500) could mean your body may not be able to fight infection the way it should. A low number is sometimes called leukopenia. Your doctor will do a physical
exam and consider symptoms that you have along with your past medical issues to figure out what's behind your result. Bone marrow problems: The spongy center of your bones, which is called the bone marrow, makes blood cells. Low WBC counts are often linked to bone marrow problems. Being around certain chemicals, like benzene and pesticides, as well as some types of cancer and
cancer treatments including chemotherapy and radiation, can hurt your bone marrow's ability to make WBCs. Autoimmune disorders: Some
autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, will tell your body to attack and destroy its own WBCs. Infection: Viruses can affect your bone
marrow and cause low WBCs for a while. Severe infections, like blood infections, can lead to your body using up WBCs faster than it can make them. HIV https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/understanding-aids-hiv-symptoms kills a specific kind of white blood cell. Medicines: Some
drugs, including antibiotics, can destroy WBCs. Nutrition: Not eating well or low levels of certain
vitamins, such as folic acid and B12, can affect how your body makes WBCs. Alcohol abuse can mess with the nutrients in
your body and with WBC counts, too. Spleen problems: The spleen also makes WBCs. Infections, blood clots, and other problems can make it swell and not work the way it should. This will drop your WBC count. If there's no clear reason for a low white blood cell count, your doctor will probably want to do the test again, or do a differential or "diff" along with the CBC. This other test gives a lot more detail. There are normal ranges for each of the five kinds of WBCs, and some problems only affect one type. The results of a diff could help your doctor narrow down what's going on. Many times, a repeated test will show that your WBC
count is normal. Your doctor may want to do more tests, based on the symptoms you have. For instance, you might get checked for strep throat or mono. Other blood tests can look for a
viral infection, inflammation, or allergies. The doctor may want to take a sample of your
bone marrow to see if it's healthy. When your WBC count is very low, you may need to take steps to avoid an infection. Your doctor may ask you to see a hematologist. This is a specialist who has extra training for diagnosing and treating blood count problems. If your WBC count
stays low or keeps getting lower, work with your doctor to find out why it's happening. The right treatment should help your white blood cell count return to normal. Can vitamin D deficiency cause low white cell count?Vitamin D deficiency does not have significant effect on RBC count and indices, on WBC total and differential count, nor on BP and HR.
Does vitamin D affect white blood cells?The reason: Vitamin D instructs your white blood cells to manufacture a protein that kills infections.
What is the most common reason for low white blood cell count?A low white blood cell count usually is caused by: Viral infections that temporarily disrupt the work of bone marrow. Certain disorders present at birth (congenital) that involve diminished bone marrow function. Cancer or other diseases that damage bone marrow.
Does leukemia cause low vitamin D?In our study, over 90% of patients with acute leukemia (including AML, ALL) had insufficient 25(OH)D levels. 25(OH)D insufficiency was more pronounced in ALL patients (p=0.56) as compared to AML. 25(OH)D levels significantly reduced after remission-induction chemotherapy in ALL population as in AML (p <0.05).
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What causes low vitamin d and low white blood cell count
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