Vitamin D Linked to Lower Risk of Advanced Cancer
Could taking a vitamin D supplement make it less likely that you will develop a cancer that spreads... or is deadly?
By Harvard Women's Health Watch Image: Bernadette Wurzinger at Pixabay
A study published by JAMA Network Open provides some evidence this is the case.
Of the 25,000 men and women randomly assigned 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D each day, nearly 20% were less likely to have an advanced cancer.
That is, "less likely" compared to those who received a placebo.
"Advanced cancer" was defined here as one that metastasized... or proved fatal.
However, what researchers did not find is any indication that vitamin D supplements could prevent cancer altogether.
People taking vitamin D supplements risked being diagnosed with cancer... a risk level similar to those who took the placebo.
They were just less likely to have metastatic cancer or to die from it.