Better Outcomes for Cancer Patients With High Vitamin D Levels: New Study

A new meta-analysis of more than 17,000 cancer patients shows an association between higher vitamin D levels and significantly better survival and remission rates, as reported by Medscape Medical News. In assessing a dose-response relationship, researchers found that a 10-nmol/L (4-ng/ml) increase in vitamin D blood level corresponded to a 4 percent reduction in all-cause mortality among all cancer patients.

When broken down by the type of cancer, the study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, showed that overall survival for colorectal cancer, breast cancer and lymphoma was significantly better for those with the highest levels compared to the lowest. A lesser, but still favorable correlation also existed for patients with lung cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, melanoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma

“This study could be considered as the most confirmatory evidence to date supporting an association between circulating 25(OH)D levels and cancer outcomes,” senior author Hui Wang, MD, PhD, professor at the Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Medscape. “Considering that vitamin D deficiency is widespread around the world, our suggestion is to ensure everyone has sufficient levels of this important nutrient — that is, circulating 25(OH)D levels — greater than 75 nmol/L.”

Medscape also reported on another new study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, that found an association between vitamin D deficiency and more aggressive prostate cancer. Click here to read Medscape’s coverage of both studies.

Click here to view the study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

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