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).
18 July 2016
Food fortification and enrichment are two population-level strategies that can improve micronutrient status. Today’s trend of nutritional defortification is, unfortunately, paving the way for nutritional deficiencies.
19 June 2013
According to a new US review, elevated blood concentrations and intakes of magnesium may decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 30 %.
1 January 2015
Nutrition plays a fundamental role in supporting the structural and functional development of the human brain from conception, throughout early infancy, and extending into later life.
