Could vitamin D have a positive effect on colon cancer?

Taking larger amounts of vitamin D for colorectal cancer, primarily from food sources, could help protect against early-onset or precancerous colon polyps. This emerges from the first study to show such a connection. The study results could potentially lead to recommendationshigher vitamin D intakeas a cost-effective supplement to screening tests. In addition, the new findings contribute to the strategic prevention of colorectal cancer in adults younger than 50 years.

What benefits would taking vitamin D have for colon cancer?

The study authors reported that vitamin D intake from food sources such as fish, mushrooms, eggs and milk have declined in recent decades. There is increasing evidence of a connection between such vitamin deficiencies and the risk of developing colon cancer. However, before the current study, researchers had not examined whether total vitamin D intake was associated with the likelihood of early-stage colorectal cancer. A vitamin D intake of 300 IU per day was associated with an approximately 50% lower risk of cancer at a young age. However, this association was stronger with vitamin D from foods such as dairy products than with supplements. However, the study authors caution that this result could be due to chance or unknown factors. Interestingly, they found no significant association between total vitamin D intake and the risk of developing colorectal cancer after age 50. Furthermore, the study results could not explain this inconsistency.

The researchers concluded that higher vitamin D intake is associated with a lower risk of early-stage colorectal cancer. This research further supports that vitamin D may be important in preventing colorectal cancer that occurs in younger adults. However, it is important to understand the risk factors associated with early-onset colon cancer. This would allow doctors and nutrition experts to make well-founded recommendations on diets and lifestyle and provide better advice to high-risk people.This studyis a prospective cohort study of nurses aged 25 to 42 that began in 1989.