Expert opinion
VIDEO: First-Ever Analysis Comparing Fish and Fish Oil Intakes Globally – The Results
19 April 2017
09 May 2014
According to a new review from China, cancer patients who have high blood vitamin D concentrations when they are diagnosed tend to have better survival rates and remain in remission longer.
The meta-analysis evaluated the results of 25 studies that measured blood vitamin D levels of a total of 17,332 cancer patients at or near the time of diagnosis and measured survival rates (1). The data analysis found a 10 nmol/L increase in vitamin D levels was tied to a 4% increase in survival of the patients. The strongest link was found between vitamin D levels and survival in breast cancer, lymphoma and colorectal cancer. There was also a positive (but less strong) effect of vitamin D in participants with lung cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma.
The researchers commented that, as vitamin D levels may affect the prognosis of cancer patients, physicians need to pay close attention to vitamin D status in people who have been diagnosed with cancer. They said that as vitamin D deficiency is a widespread issue all over the world, it is important to ensure that everyone has sufficient levels of this nutrient. Several epidemiological studies have associated higher vitamin D levels (above 75 nmol/L) with significantly reduced mortality in patients with cancer (2, 3). Randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation can improve survival in cancer patients with low vitamin D status (below 50 nmol/L) at diagnosis and before treatment. Experimental studies have shown that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the bioactive form of vitamin D, may inhibit cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and induce cancer cell maturation and apoptosis (4).
19 April 2017
1 June 2014
The amount of knowledge and information about the role of vitamin D in the human body has increased in recent years. It is considered certain that vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and thus for the formation and maintenance of strong bones.
27 June 2014
A new US review suggests that people with lower blood levels of vitamin D are twice as likely to die prematurely as people with higher blood vitamin D levels.