A Key Overlooked Medical Condition: Vitamin D Deficiency in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Abstract

Objective: Pretreatment serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) patients were investigated.

Methods: Serum 25(OH)D levels in newly diagnosed HL patients were compared with those of a noncancer control group. None of the participants were taking vitamin D supplements before the study.

Results: A total of 120 individuals were enrolled (60 HL patients and 60 controls). The mean 25(OH)D level was 11 ± 8.52 μg/L in the patient group and 26.85 ± 10.52 μg/L in the control group (P < .005). Females had lower 25(OH)D levels in the patient group (8.93 ± 3.7 μg/L vs. 14.76 ± 9.4 μg/L, P = .001). The mean 25(OH)D level did not differ according to sex in the control group (28.4 ± 9.6 μg/L in males vs. 24.4 ± 11.9 μg/L in females, P = .17). Thirty-one (51.7%) patients had advanced-stage disease. The mean 25(OH)D level was lower in patients with advanced-stage disease (10.7 ± 4.22 μg/L vs. 15.48 ± 11.02 μg/L, P = .035). Patients with an initial presentation of B symptoms, bulky disease, or splenic involvement had lower 25(OH)D levels (P = .025, .01, and .009, respectively). Progression-free survival was shorter (62 vs. 108 months, P = .002) in patients with severe deficiency (<10 μg/L).

Conclusion: Pretreatment vitamin D levels are low in HL and decrease as the disease burden increases. Progression-free survival was shorter in patients with severe deficiency.

Cite this article as: Özünal IE, Kılıçaslan E, Kaptan MK. A key overlooked medical condition: vitamin D deficiency in Hodgkin lymphoma. Cerrahpaşa Med J, 2026, 50, 0002, doi: 10.5152/cjm.2026.26002.