Vitamin D, Linked to Colon Cancer Survival
A preliminary study indicates that Vitamin D not only reduce the risk of developing colon and rectal cancer, vitamin D consumption is also linked to survival.
The results showed that individuals with the vitamin D levels in the highest quartile were 48 percent less likely to die (from any cause, including colon cancer) than those with the lowest vitamin D measurements. The odds of dying from colon cancer specifically were 39 percent lower, the scientists found.
“Our data suggest that higher prediagnosis plasma levels of [vitamin D] after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer may significantly improve overall survival,” the authors wrote. “Future trials should examine the role of vitamin D supplementation in patients with colorectal cancer.”
These data are still preliminary and a clinical trial is being planned to identify the role of other factors such as diet, sun exposure, physical activity and body mass index.
This is an interesting study and finding. Vitamin D has been linked to helping many different diseases. There was a post here previously about the role of vitamin D in heart disease. I’d be interested to see what further research shows, and if vitamin D can really help people with colon cancer.