Vitamin D may Boost Survival Rates Among Cancer Patients

A recent study looks at how vitamin D may boost survival rates in cancer survivors.

"By reviewing studies that collectively examined vitamin D levels in 17,332 cancer patients, our analysis demonstrated that vitamin D levels are linked to better outcomes in several types of cancer," said one of the study's authors, Hui Wang, MD, PhD, Professor of the Institute for Nutritional Sciences at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, China, via Medical Xpress. "The results suggest vitamin D may influence the prognosis for people with breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lymphoma, in particular."

For the study, researchers examined data from 25 separate studies that measured vitamin D levels in cancer patients at the time of their diagnosis and monitored their survival rates. All of the participants had their vitamin D levels measured before undergoing cancer treatments.

Researchers found that vitamin D levels were linked to an increased rate of survival among cancer patients--particularly for those suffering from lymphoma, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. However, for those suffering from lung cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma, vitamin D proved to be less beneficial.

"Considering that vitamin D deficiency is a widespread issue all over the world, it is important to ensure that everyone has sufficient levels of this important nutrient," Wang said, via the news organization. "Physicians need to pay close attention to vitamin D levels in people who have been diagnosed with cancer."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

Vitamin D belongs to a group of fat-soluble vitamins that are responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of iron, magnesium, phosphate, calcium and zinc.