Null association between vitamin D and PSA levels among black men in a vitamin D supplementation trial

Results: With vitamin D supplementation, no significant differences in free and total PSA were observed; free PSA,-0.0004 ng/mL (P = 0.94) and total PSA,-0.004 ng/mL (P = 0.92) for each additional 1, 000 U/d of vitamin D3. Conclusion: Within an unselected population of healthy Black men without a cancer diagnosis, we found no effect of vitamin D supplementation on free or total PSA.

Background: Black men exhibit a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency as well as a higher incidence of prostate cancer and higher mortality rates from prostate cancer than Whites. There are few data about the effect of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in healthy Black men.

Methods: During three winters from 2007 to 2010, 105 Black men (median age, 48.9 years) of Boston, MA were randomized into a four-arm, double-blind trial for 3 months of placebo, 1, 000, 2, 000, or 4, 000Uof vitamin D3. At baseline and 3 months, free and total PSA was measured.

Impact: These findings support prior findings of no change in PSA with vitamin D supplementation and emphasize the need for new methods to assess the influence of vitamin D supplementation on prostate cancer prevention.