Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center have found that vitamin D intake can reduce cancer deaths. The research was published in the journal Aging Research Reviews.
The scientists analyzed data from 14 high-quality studies conducted at the German Cancer Research Center, involving around 105,000 people in total. The death rate from cancer was 12% lower with daily intake of vitamin D3 at low doses. This effect has been observed in both deficient and non-deficient humans. High doses of vitamin D3 taken at long intervals had no effect on cancer mortality.
The effect was particularly evident in patients with colorectal cancer: 59% had vitamin D3 deficiency, which is also associated with poor prognosis.
The study’s authors suggest that the reduction in mortality is due to the production of the hormone calcitriol, the active agent synthesized in the body from vitamin D3, which could possibly inhibit tumor growth.
A more detailed analysis of studies on daily intake also showed that people aged 70 and over benefited most from vitamin D3 therapy. Additionally, the effect was most pronounced when vitamin D supplementation was started before cancer was detected.