Can Vitamin D Reduce Cancer Risks?
Some evidence suggests that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. This is because vitamin D plays an important role in regulating the growth and division of cells, regulating the immune system, and helping reduce inflammation. Therefore, it is also why many scientists believe there are lower cancer rates among individuals with higher vitamin D levels.
Key takeaways:
Vitamin D offers many health benefits, including maintaining healthy bones and teeth, improving immune function, and improving mood.
Many studies show that those with higher vitamin D levels are less likely to get cancer. The exact reason for this is unknown, but researchers believe that cell growth and improved immune system function play a role.
Increased vitamin D levels have been shown to decrease the rates of breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma.
Getting enough sunlight is essential for increasing vitamin D levels, but it’s not always easy. However, eating a diet fortified with vitamin D and taking supplements can also help improve vitamin D levels.
What role does vitamin D play in the body?
Vitamin D is a nutrient in common foods and a hormone our body makes. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D has many health benefits, including:
Strengthens bones and teeth. Vitamin D is essential for absorbing important minerals, which are key for forming and maintaining strong bones and teeth.
Improves immune function. Vitamin D plays a role in supporting the immune system and helping to prevent and fight against infection.
Reduces inflammation. Vitamin D has been shown to help reduce the inflammatory response.
Improves mood. Low vitamin D levels have been shown to increase the risk of the onset of depression and anxiety. Increasing vitamin D levels can improve mood and the effects of depression and anxiety.
Aids in a healthy pregnancy. Getting enough vitamin D during pregnancy is essential to a healthy pregnancy. It is associated with a lower risk of preterm birth and increases the changes of healthy weights at birth.
Reduces the risk of chronic disease. Evidence suggests that higher vitamin D levels may be associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Although vitamin D is arguably one of the most important vitamins to human health, more than 50% of the world’s population does not get enough vitamin D.
How does vitamin D prevent cancer?
The exact mechanism behind why people with higher levels of vitamin D have a reduced risk of cancer are not fully understood, however, some studies suggest it is determined by a number of different factors:
Regulation of cell growth. Vitamin D has been shown to play a role in regulating cell growth, which could help prevent the development and spread of cancerous cells.
Immune system function. Vitamin D has been shown to increase immune system function, this helps the immune system to better detect and kill cancer cells.
Inhibits angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the process by which blood vessels are formed. This is a critical step in tumor growth. Because vitamin D has been shown to stop angiogenesis, this is known to help prevent cancer cell growth.
DNA repair. Vitamin D has been shown to help with DNA repair and is a critical step in preventing cancer. Repaired DNA changes prevents the formation of new cancer cells.
Anti-inflammatory effects. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for developing many types of cancer. Vitamin D has been shown to help prevent inflammation, which can aid in reducing the risk for certain types of cancer.
Which cancers can vitamin D prevent?
Several studies have shown that people with higher vitamin D levels have a lower risk of certain types of cancer. They also suggest a decrease in the likelihood of advanced, fatal cancers. For example, promising evidence supports that high levels of vitamin D have been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma.
Colorectal cancer is very prevalent and more common in men than women. For men, the likelihood of being affected by colorectal cancer is 1 in 26 individuals over 50. Thankfully, preventative screening has come a long way, and rates are slowly decreasing. In addition, several studies have found that higher levels of vitamin D are associated with a reduced risk of having colorectal cancer in both men and women.
Breast cancer is very common, and 1 in 8 women will be affected in their lifetime. Research suggests that higher vitamin D levels may be associated with a lower risk of certain types of breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women. The studies also show a reduction in advanced or fatal breast cancers.
Prostate cancer is common, and 1 in 8 men will develop it in their lifetime — 1 in 29 will die. These rates are staggering, and new evidence suggests that higher vitamin D levels can prevent prostate cancer, while low vitamin D levels could suggest a risk factor for colorectal cancer.
Melanoma is less common (more frequent among the white population), the total affected amount of individuals is about 2.6% of the population. In addition, studies have shown that people with higher vitamin D levels were much less likely to be diagnosed with skin cancers.
Pancreatic and lung cancer are also mentioned in studies as cancer types which can be lessened by a higher vitamin D levels. However, some studies show conflicting evidence supporting this, and more research is needed to come to a definitive conclusion.
Can vitamin D prevent all types of cancer?
There is not enough evidence to suggest that vitamin D prevents all types of cancer. Some studies suggest that higher vitamin D levels do not lessen cancer risks in the stomach, esophagus, or mouth. They also propose no correlation between vitamin D levels and ovarian cancer. More studies have to be done to identify the relationship between high vitamin D levels and lower cancer levels in individuals worldwide.
How to get more vitamin D?
There are several ways to get more vitamin D daily:
Sun exposure. The body naturally produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Spending time outside with the sun on your skin several times weekly can help increase your vitamin D levels. It’s always important to be mindful of the risk of skin damage and sunburn, as these can increase the risk in the formation of skin cancer.
Wide variety of foods. Consuming foods which are rich in vitamin D, for example, fatty fish (salmon and tuna), egg yolks, fortified foods and drinks (milk, cereals, orange juice), etc.
Supplementation. As mentioned above, many people are low in vitamin D, and regular, over-the-counter supplements can help. Taking over-the-counter supplements like pills, capsules, and drops is very effective. Studies suggest that this low-cost, but effective alternative is a great way to increase vitamin D levels and also help prevent some types of cancer.
It’s important to note that the relationship between vitamin D and cancer is very complex, and more research is needed to understand the link fully. However, adding a vitamin D supplement to your diet may help reduce your risk of certain types of cancers, increase the overall health of bones and teeth, and have many other health benefits. Speaking to a medical professional before adding supplements to any diet is always recommended.
FAQ
Can I take extra vitamin D to prevent breast cancer?
Adding vitamin D supplements to any diet may help reduce the risk of breast cancer, however, it’s unknown to what extent. Discussing with a healthcare professional before adding supplements to your diet is important.
Are men more likely to have low vitamin D than women?
There is no evidence that suggests men or women are more at risk of low levels of vitamin D. Lifestyle plays an important factor in levels of vitamin D, and men and women are equally susceptible to low levels of vitamin D.
How much vitamin D do I need to prevent cancer?
No specific amount of vitamin D is known to prevent cancer. The recommended daily dose of vitamin D supplementation is 700 IU (international units), and most adults do not get enough vitamin D. It is safe to supplement with vitamin D daily; however, it does not mean you will reduce your risk of all types of cancer.
Resources:
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics. Vitamin D and cancer.
Trends Cancer Research Journal. Influence of vitamin D on cancer risk and treatment: Why the variability?
JAMA Network Open. Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplements on Development of Advanced Cancer A Secondary Analysis of the VITAL Randomized Clinical Trial.
