Vitamin D may reduce the risk of getting advanced cancer, according to a new study. The main results.

Vitamin D definitely has many virtues. While several scientific studies indicate that it may limit the risk of infection with the coronavirus or of contracting a severe form of Covid-19, a new study highlights its potential anti-cancer benefits.

 Published on November 18 in the JAMA Network Open, this study conducted by researchers from Massachusetts (United States) was conducted from the VITAL trial (Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial), opposing the intake of vitamin D to that of a placebo, which ended in 2018. A first analysis had revealed that vitamin D did not reduce the incidence of cancer but suggested that it reduced the risk of death from cancer.

This second analysis, based on data from 25,871 patients, indicates that vitamin D3 in supplement form reduces the incidence of cancer in an advanced stage (ie metastasized or terminally ill). The greatest decrease in risk was seen in people of normal weight, while unfortunately no reduction in the incidence of advanced cancers was seen in overweight or obese people.

In detail, the study reports an overall reduction of 17% in the risk of advanced cancer, a figure that rises to 38% in people with normal body mass index (BMI). Weight thus influences the relationship between vitamin D and cancer risk, note the authors.

Of the 25,871 participants in the VITAL study, 1,617 were diagnosed with invasive cancer within five years of follow-up. Of the nearly 13,000 participants who received vitamin D, 226 were diagnosed with advanced cancer compared to 274 in the placebo group. Of the 7,843 participants with normal body mass index (BMI less than 25) and taking vitamin D, only 58 were diagnosed with advanced cancer, compared to 96 on placebo.

The study authors indicate that being overweight and obese, due to the inflammation it induces, may decrease the effectiveness of vitamin D, possibly by reducing the sensitivity of vitamin D receptors. also specify that vitamin D deficiency is commonly found in people with cancer. Since vitamin D is a well-known, well-studied and inexpensive dietary supplement, researchers recommend that it be used in the prevention of metastatic cancer, and that further work be done.

 Source: MedicalXpress