“Metastasis” is one of those words that, unfortunately, scares anyone. While many of us don’t know what it means, every time we hear it we know that nothing good is being mentioned. Metastases are the phenomenon whereby the cancer cells of a given tumor move and migrate to other organs. They therefore go on to create other tumors in other parts of the body.
Metastases usually indicate an already advanced stage of the tumor in question. 90% of cancer deaths are due to metastases. Recently, however, a study has highlighted a possible correlation between vitamin D supplementation and the advancement of metastatic tumors. It sounds incredible, but some metastatic cancers could be slowed down with this important vitamin.
The study in question is a VITAL study. The results of this study were published last year on the New England Journal of Medicine.
It sounds incredible, but some metastatic cancers could be slowed down with this important vitamin
The study is particularly concerned with the use of vitamin D3 as a supplement. A first analysis showed that the intake of this vitamin by healthy and not overweight subjects does NOT help prevent the onset of cancer. A subsequent research (published on JAMA network open), however, followed the subjects who, after participating in the first research, developed a tumor in the following 5 years. In fact, out of 25,000 volunteers, 1617 developed a form of cancer.
It was noted that among the 1,617 people who developed cancer there was a lower incidence of metastatic cancers than those who took the placebo. Therefore, it is assumed that taking vitamin D3 supplements does not help prevent cancer but could help reduce the rate of progression of metastatic disease.
But beware: these results are to be taken with a grain of salt. In fact, the possible effect of vitamin D on cancer has not yet been definitively clarified. It will take many more studies to confirm this first research. Despite this, however, this research constitutes a great step forward to better understand the actual relationship between this disease and vitamin D.
Vitamin D3 is present in many foods such as most blue fish, molluscs, bottarga and caviar. Vitamin D, on the other hand, is contained in cod liver oil, which has been used as a remedy for many ailments for a very long time.
Deepening
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