No link between vitamin D and prostate cancer
New research carried out by the University of Bristol has found no link between vitamin D levels and prostate cancer.
The study is the largest and most up-to-date investigation of the worldwide evidence on the link between vitamin D and prostate cancer. The findings support a review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which also found no evidence that lower levels of vitamin D increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in the UK and researchers are hoping to find out more about what could increase or reduce the risk of developing the disease. In laboratory experiments vitamin D has been shown to help slow down cell division – which, when uncontrolled, can lead to cancer.
Sara Hiom, director of health information at Cancer Research UK, said: “There’s still a way to go before we fully understand the link between a person’s vitamin D levels and their risk of cancer. There is consistent evidence that bowel cancer is less common in people with high levels of vitamin D.
“But we still need more research to clarify whether vitamin D directly prevents bowel cancer or if people with higher levels are generally healthier. There’s no convincing evidence to suggest that vitamin D offers any protection against other types of cancer developing.”
