Vitamin D status in patients treated for prostate diseases in a tertiary hospital, in Calabar, south-south, Nigeria

Eyam ES; Eyam LE; Ene AB; Inyang OG; Saidu K; Oaclayanju O

doi:10.61386/imj.v19i3.1198

Authors

Eyam ES Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, University of Calabar, Nigeria
Eyam LE Department of Public Health, University of Calabar
Ene AB Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, University of Calabar, Nigeria
Inyang OG Department of Library Sciences, University of Calabar
Saidu K Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto
Oaclayanju O Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, Babcock University, Illishan-Remo, Ogun State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61386/imj.v19i3.1198

Keywords:

Prostate diseases, vitamin D deficiency, prostate-specific antigen

Abstract

Context: Vitamin D deficiency is a global problem often undiagnosed among patients, and routine monitoring is not practiced in Nigeria.

Objective: We assessed the vitamin D status of patients undergoing treatment for prostate diseases in Calabar.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 102 men aged 40 years and above, with prostate diseases, devoid of prostate-related surgeries, recruited from urology clinic, in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, from October 2023 to April, 2024. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire after consent. Blood samples were analyzed for vitamin D and prostate-specific antigens.

Results: Most participants, 43 (42.2%) were 61-70 years, and over half 55 (53.9%) had a tertiary education. Majority, 52 (50.9%), had benign prostatic hyperplasia, 40 (39.2%) had prostate cancer, and 10 (9.8%) had prostatitis. Overall, 71(69.61%) had sufficient vitamin D levels (50–100 nMol/L), and 10(9.8%) had deficiency. Higher proportion of deficiency was found in the 1-5 years treatment category. Elevated prostate-specific antigen (>10 ng/mL), occurred in 52 (50.98%) of participants, predominantly below six months of treatment. There was no statistically significant association between sociodemographic characteristics of respondents, treatment categories, and PSA with vitamin D levels (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Majority of patients had sufficient vitamin D levels. However, vitamin D deficiency was higher in the prostate cancer group and the1-5 years treatment category. Further studies are suggested to understand vitamin D’s long-term role in prostate disease management.