Study Dismisses Relationship Between Vitamin D and Cancer Death

BETHESDA, Md.—Researchers from the National Cancer Institute analyzed data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to examine the role of circulating vitamin D in blood and cancer mortality.

Several previous epidemiological studies have supported the hypothesis that the “sunshine vitamin” could reduce cancer mortality by decreasing cancer incidence and improving survival. The latest research data, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2007; 99:1594-1602), offered a different viewpoint, suggesting cancer deaths were not related to levels of vitamin D.

Researchers investigated lifestyle factors of the 16,818 survey participants, including the 536 who died from cancer. They looked at the participants’ sex, race and age and found circulating vitamin D did not relate to the deaths. They did, however, find higher levels of vitamin D were associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer death. According to their findings, higher levels of vitamin D (80 nmol/L or more) were associated with a 72-percent reduced risk of colorectal cancer, compared to those with lower levels (less than 50 nmol/L).