Vitamin D ‘can cut cancer risk by 38%’

VITAMIN D supplements cut the risk of developing advanced cancer by a sixth, a study has found.

People taking the daily pills were 17% less likely to be diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease.

And those of a healthy weight who took the supplement saw an even bigger reduction in risk of getting it – of 38%.

Researcher Dr Paulette Chandler said: ‘Vitamin D is a supplement that’s readily available [and] cheap. Our findings provide new information about the relationship between vitamin D and advanced cancer.’

More than 25,000 people took part in the study, which spanned more than five years. They included men aged 50 and over and women aged 55 and older who did not have cancer when the trial began.

Participants were divided into four groups – the first on a daily dose of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid tablets, the second took vitamin D plus a dummy placebo, the third consumed omega-3s and a placebo, while the fourth only had placebos.

Initial results showed no statistical difference in overall cancer rates, but a reduction in cancer-related deaths was observed.

In a secondary analysis, Dr Chandler and her team, of Harvard University’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, evaluated the risk of developing advanced cancer for those taking vitamin D pills or not. Some 1,617 were diagnosed with an invasive cancer. Of those who took vitamin D, 226 were diagnosed with an aggressive form, compared to 274 who received the placebo.

Of those of a healthy weight who took vitamin D, 58 were diagnosed with advanced cancer compared with 96 on the placebo.

The team found no association between omega-3 tablets and advanced cancer. Researchers believe obesity and associated inflammation may decrease the efficacy of vitamin D. Many health experts recommend taking vitamin D supplements in countries with little light in winter, such as Ireland, to make up for the lack of sunlight which helps the body produce the vitamin.

In addition, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the HSE recommend that babies aged up to 12 months be given a vitamin D supplement, with vitamin D3 the preferred form for infants.