Reduced Cancer Mortality with Daily Vitamin D Intake

Vitamin D intake could reduce cancer mortality in the population by twelve percent – provided the vitamin is taken daily. This was the result of an evaluation of 14 studies of the highest quality level, conducted at the German Cancer Research Center, involving a total of almost 105,000 participants.

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in Germany and is associated with an increased risk of various diseases. For example, increased mortality in COVID infections has also been demonstrated in cases of vitamin D deficiency. [1, 2]

Daily supplementation with vitamin D is strongly recommended year-round for everyone, but especially for vulnerable individuals. Even during the summer months, sufficient vitamin D intake through sunlight is only possible in a few cases. Due to varying responses to vitamin D, regular monitoring by a general practitioner or naturopath is advisable.

A meta-analysis by researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) showed that vitamin D3 supplementation in cancer patients leads to significantly lower levels of the pro-inflammatory messenger substance tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). This meta-analysis was based on 8 randomized controlled trials involving almost 600 patients with cancer or precancerous conditions. TNF-α is released during inflammation and activates immune cells. The results showed that vitamin D3 significantly lowered TNF-α levels, and the standardized mean difference was -1.65.

Inflammation as a Key Driver of Cancer

Lower levels were also observed for other inflammatory markers such as Interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) under vitamin D supplementation, but the effects were not yet statistically significant due to the limited number of patients. Nevertheless, this is noteworthy. In summary, Interleukin-6 plays an important role in cancer development and progression by influencing inflammatory responses, tumor cell migration and invasion, as well as cell growth and proliferation. High IL-6 serum levels have been associated with a poorer prognosis in various types of cancer. An elevated CRP value in cancer can be used to assess the course of a therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiation. However, the CRP value is non-specifically elevated in other diseases or inflammations as well. Incidentally, Interleukin-10 levels remained unchanged.

The researchers concluded that cancer patients could benefit from personalized vitamin D3 supplementation, as it might inhibit pro-inflammatory reactions. Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in cancer patients, and a further study by the DKFZ suggests that regular vitamin D3 intake could reduce mortality from cancer by approximately 12%.

High levels of inflammatory markers in cancer patients are often associated with an unfavorable disease course, particularly in colorectal, breast, pancreatic, liver, and prostate cancer. However, the biological mechanisms by which vitamin D influences the course of cancer are not yet fully understood.

The study emphasizes that individually tailored vitamin D supplementation might be even more effective, and current research by the DKFZ in collaboration with clinics in Germany suggests that this personalized approach could reliably compensate for vitamin D deficiency. Long-term follow-up observations are intended to show how this approach affects inflammatory processes, quality of life, and patient prognosis.

The study thus contributes to a better understanding of the anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin D in cancer patients and suggests that personalized supplementation could be a promising option to positively influence the course of the disease. However, the exact mechanisms and long-term effects require further research.