THE ROLE OF VITAMIN D IN THE PREVENTION OF CANCER

INTRODUCTION

Vitamin D also known as calciferol is both a nutrient we eat and a hormone our bodies make, it is a fat soluble vitamin that has long been known to help the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus both which are critical for building bones, the two major forms are vitamin d₂  (ergocalciferol or pre-vitamin D) and vitamin d₃ (cholecalciferol) both are also naturally occurring forms that are produced in the presence of the suns ultraviolet rays, hence its nickname the ‘’sunshine vitamin’’ but d₂ is produced majorly  in plants and fungi and d₃ in animals including humans .

SOURCES OF VITAMIN D

Vitamin D production in the skin is the primary natural source of this vitamin but many people have insufficient levels because they live in places where sunlight is limited or because they have limited sun exposure due to staying indoors much of the time, few foods are naturally rich in vitamin d₃, the best sources are the flesh of fatty fish and fish liver oils, smaller amounts are found in egg yolks, cheese and beef liver, mushrooms also are known to contain some amounts of vitamin d₂.

BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D

The role of vitamin d in disease prevention has become a popular area of research but clear answers about the benefits of taking amounts beyond the RDA are not conclusive, although observational studies have noticed a strong connection with lower rates of certain diseases in populations that live in sunnier climates or have higher serum levels of vitamin d, clinical trials that give people vitamin d supplements to affect a particular disease are still inconclusive;

THE MAJOR BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D INCLUDE;

• IMPROVING BONE HEALTH AND MUSCLE STRENGTH
• STRENGTHENING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
• REDUCING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
• PREVENTING CERTAIN TYPES OF CANCER.
• LOWERING THE RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
• IMPROVING BRAIN FUNCTION
• REDUCING THE RISKS OF HEART DISEASES.

SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY AND TOXICITY; Vitamin D deficiency may occur from a lack in the diet, poor absorption or having a metabolic need for higher amounts if one is not eating enough of it and does not receive ultraviolet sun exposure. People at high risk of vitamin d deficiency include;

• People with inflammatory bowel disease or other conditions that disrupt the normal digestion of fat
• People who are obese
• People who have undergone gastric bypass surgery which typically removes the upper part of the small intestine where vitamin d is absorbed.

Conditions resulting from a prolonged vitamin d deficiency includes; rickets and osteomalacia.

Vitamin D toxicity most often occurs from taking supplements, the symptoms of toxicity include;

• Anorexia
• Weight loss
• Irregular heart beat
• Hardening of blood vessels potentially leading to damage of the heart or kidneys

VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTS AND CANCER PREVENTION

Regular sun exposure is the most natural way to get enough vitamin d to maintain healthy blood levels and as such people with more frequent sun exposure tend to have lower risks of vitamin d deficiency and also lower risks of developing cancer, studies have also reported lower cancer and cardiovascular deaths in regions with greater sun exposure, so with this in mind could a vitamin d supplement help prevent the risks of developing cancer in people who do not see the sun as much??

According to a nationwide randomized placebo-controlled trial of vitamin d₃(cholecalciferol) at a dose of 2000iu per day and marine omega 3 fatty acids at a dose of 1g per day for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease among men 50 years of age and older and women 55years of age and older in the united states , a total of 25,871 participants including 5,106 black participants underwent randomization, the primary endpoints were invasive cancer of any type and major cardiovascular events.

Supplementation with vitamin d₃ at a dose of 2000iu per day and omega 3 at a dose of 1g per day were found not to be associated with a lower risk of either cancer development or development of major cardiovascular events, during a median follow up of 5.3years, cancer was diagnosed in 1,617 participants (793 in the vitamin d₃ group and 824 in the placebo group) also a major cardiovascular event occurred in 805 participants (396 in the vitamin d group and 409 in the placebo group).

 After evaluating over 25,000 subjects, the researchers could not find a strong relationship between vitamin d₃ supplementation and cancer prevention although the study showed that vitamin d₃ supplementation might reduce the risk of developing advanced cancers among adults who have already been diagnosed.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR USE

There is not enough evidence to suggest vitamin d₃ can prevent cancer but having adequate amounts of this vitamin in the blood can be very much beneficial to the body, vitamin d₃ should not be used as a standalone line defense against cancer, instead healthy lifestyle habits like a well- balanced diet, regular exercise are most important for cancer prevention.