Vitamin D, May Lessen the Risk of Advanced Cancer from Progressing

In the past years, scientists and researchers have been trying to figure out the enticing relationship between Vitamin D and Cancer. We all know that Vitamin D has beneficial effects when it comes to our body. Some studies highlight the vitamin for its "therapeutic" effects on chronic illnesses and metastatic diseases. Even studies that were able to find out about people who live near the equator where exposure to sunlight produces more vitamin D have lower incidence or death rates from certain cancers.

A study about the connection of vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids reveals that the said supplements are not effective against the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases or cancer among healthy middle-aged men and women. In the second analysis of the study, Brigham and Women's Hospital research team narrowed down the connection between vitamin D supplements and the risk of metastatic cancer. 

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According to Brigham and Women's Hospital's release, the research team reports that Vitamin D has a relationship with an overall reduction of 17 percent for advanced cancer. The release further said that when the team observed the participants with normal body mass index (BMI), they were able to find 38 percent risk reduction, which made them suggest that body mass may impact the relationship between vitamin D and diminished risk of advanced cancer.

Primary care physician and epidemiologist from Brigham's Division of Preventive Medicine Paulette Chandler, MD, MPH, said in the release that the findings suggest that vitamin D is a readily available supplement, cheap and has been used in studies for decades. She supplements that their finding, particularly the robust risk reduction obvious in individuals with normal weight, delivers new information regarding the association between metastatic cancer and vitamin D. 

READ ALSO: Effects of Exposure To Vitamin D in Utero on Children's Risk for High Blood Pressure

Methods of Results of the Study

According to the release, the study's (VITAL) secondary analysis led by Dr. Chandler and her team followed up on the possible lessening in cancer deaths with an evaluation of fatal or metastatic cancer amongst participants who take or did not take vitamin D supplements during the research. The researchers also took note of the possible adapting effect of BMI. 

The release further said that among more than 25 000 participants in VITAL's study, a total of 1,617 participants are diagnosed with invasive cancer in the course of five years, such as breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, and many other cancers. The release also notes that of almost 13,000 participants who received vitamin D, 226 were diagnosed with advanced cancer than 274 participants who received the placebo. The researchers also emphasized that among the 7,843 with normal BMI who takes vitamin D, only 58 are diagnosed with metastatic cancer are identified with advanced cancer compared to 96 taking the placebo. 

Dr. Chandler notes in the release that their findings with the results from previous studies support the ongoing evaluation of vitamin D supplements regarding its connection in preventing metastatic cancer. She also added that additional studies focusing on cancer patients and investigating BMI are necessary.

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