Another recent review of studies found the association of vitamin D levels to decreased mortality rates to be consistent regardless of countries, sexes, age groups, and seasons of blood draw. In his analysis of the research, Dr. John Cannell of the Vitamin D Council is quick, as always, to note however that the benefit may come directly from sun exposure, not just vitamin D levels.

“The safest thing to do is get as much safe sensible sunshine as you can and take 5,000 IU/day,” Cannell writes on the VDC blog.

Researchers examined a group of studies that followed more than 29,000 participants for seven years, comparing the highest segment of vitamin D levels to the lowest. They found that subjects in the highest quintile of vitamin D levels were 57 percent less likely to die in the seven-year period. This related to all-cause mortality, as well as well as cardiovascular  mortality and cancer mortality, in those with a history of cancer, specifically.

Based on this, the authors made the sub-conclusion that “vitamin D may play an important role in cancer prognosis.”

Click here to read coverage from the Vitamin D Council.