For many years, researchers have been trying to understand the connection between vitamin D supplements and cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown that people living near the equator, where sunlight produces more vitamin D, have lower incidence and mortality rates in certain caseshave types of cancer. A new study has now found that vitamin D slows the progression of cancer in cancer cells and mouse models.
The role of vitamin D supplements in the fight against cancer
The results of randomized clinical trials on humans have not yet provided any clear connections. A study of omega-3 and vitamin D completed in 2018 found that the latter did not reduce overall cancer incidence. However, it indicated a lower risk of cancer deaths. The research team reports in the new study that vitamin D was associated with an overall 17 percent risk reduction for advanced cancer. When they only looked at participants with a normal body mass index (BMI), the scientists found a 38 percent reduction in cancer risk. This suggests that body mass may influence the relationship between vitamin D and reduced risk of advanced cancer. Vitamin D supplements are dietary supplements that are readily available and cheap. Doctors and researchers have been using and studying these for decades. The study results, particularly the strong risk reduction in people of normal weight, provide new information about the relationship between vitamin D and advanced cancer.
Of the more than 25,000 participants in the VITAL study, 1,617 were diagnosed with invasive cancer in the following five years. This included a broad mix of cancer types (breast, prostate, colon, lung and more). Of the nearly 13,000 participants who received vitamin D supplements, 226 were diagnosed with advanced cancer. This was compared to 274 who received the placebo. Of the 7843 participants with a normal body mass index, theTaking vitamin D, only 58 were diagnosed with advanced cancer. 96 of them took a placebo. While the team's findings on BMI could be coincidental, there is previous evidence that body mass can influence the effects of vitamin D.
Optimistic forecasts
Obesity and associated inflammation can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin D. This may occur by reducing the sensitivity of the receptor or by altering signaling. Additionally, randomized trials of vitamin D and type 2 diabetes have found greater benefits of vitamin D in people of normal weight and no benefit in people with obesity. Vitamin D deficiency is common in cancer patients. In one study, a deficiency rate of up to 72 percent was reported in cancer patients. There is also evidence that higher amounts of body fat are associated with an increased risk of several types of cancer. The resultsthis studytogether with results from previous studies support the ongoing evaluation of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of metastatic cancer. This is a connection that is biologically plausible, according to the study authors. Additional studies focusing on cancer patients and examining the role of KMI are warranted for this reason.
