Vitamin D Levels Linked to Better Outcomes in Lymphoma

Vitamin D is one of a group of fat-soluble vitamins that enhance intestinal absorption of iron, magnesium, phosphate, calcium and zinc.

In a new meta-analysis of 25 different studies that involved over 17,000 cancer patients, scientists from the Institute for Nutritional Sciences at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, China determined that vitamin D levels were linked to better outcomes in specific types of cancer.

According to study co-author Hui Wang, MD, PhD, "The results suggest vitamin D may influence the prognosis for people with breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lymphoma, in particular."

They looked at data that measured vitamin D levels in cancer patients at the time of their diagnosis, and monitored their survival rates. All patients in these studies had had their vitamin D levels checked out prior to undergoing cancer therapies.

They determined that vitamin D levels could be linked to higher survival rates in patients with lymphoma, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

"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," said Wang. "Physicians need to pay close attention to vitamin D levels in people who have been diagnosed with cancer."

The news was not as good for those with lung cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma, in which vitamin D levels were less beneficial.

The findings have been reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

Source: Medical Xpress