New meta-analysis finds: Vitamin D3 increases the chance of survival in cancer patients

Over 200,000 people die from cancer every year. This makes cancer the second leading cause of death in Germany after cardiovascular diseases. Studies on prevention, diagnosis and treatment are running at full speed. A new study by the German Cancer Research Center is now making people sit up and take notice.

The background is that cancer patients often suffer from a vitamin D deficiency. In a study with colorectal cancer patients, it was 59 percent. These patients also had an unfavorable prognosis. However, previous studies on cancer mortality have delivered very different results, according to the researchers working with Ben Schöttker.

Daily vitamin D intake increases the chance of survival in cancer patients

They wanted to find out the cause and evaluated a total of 14 studies with almost 105,000 cancer patients. The scientists were able to establish a connection between vitamin D3 supplementation and cancer mortality:

• The four studies with high single doses (60,000 to 120,000 IU per month or less) showed no effect on cancer mortality.
• In contrast, in the summary of the ten studies with daily, low dosages (400 to 4000 IU per day), the researchers determined a statistically significant one 12 percent reduction in cancer mortality .

Where 40 IU (international unit) equals 1 microgram (µg) or one-thousandth of a milligram (mg).

Also there was reinforcing factors . That was the strongest effect

• in people over 70 years and
• if vitamin D intake had already started before the cancer was diagnosed.

The researchers also assume that the reduction in mortality in people with an actual vitamin D deficiency is “considerably higher”.

Does not protect against cancer, but may reduce cancer mortality

“According to current studies, vitamin D3 intake probably does not protect against developing cancer,” says Schöttker. “But it could reduce the likelihood of dying from cancer.”

The researcher attributes this to the more regular bioavailability of the hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, which is the biologically active form of vitamin D reactions of vitamin D in the body and can presumably inhibit tumor growth .“

Hermann Brenner, epidemiologist and prevention expert at the German Cancer Research Center, summarizes: “This work underlines the great potential of vitamin D3 administration in the prevention of cancer deaths.”

Important note: According to the European Food Safety Authority, you should never take in more than a total of 100 µg (= 4000 IU) per day. The higher doses in these studies were all taken under medical supervision.

It should be that much vitamin D

According to the Robert Koch Institute, the estimated daily requirement for vitamin D in children over the age of one, adolescents and adults is around 20 micrograms (µg) per day (= 800 IU) .

In principle, the German Society for Nutrition recommends initially achieving an adequate supply of vitamin D through the body’s own production, primarily through exposure to sunlight, and also through nutrition.

Vitamin D supplementation can be useful for people in nursing homes and risk groups (up to 20 µg or 800 IU per day). Risk groups for vitamin D deficiency include:

• People over the age of 65, because the body’s own production of vitamin D decreases with age, and often increases with age, for example if bedridden as well.
• People who do not go out in the sun at all with uncovered skin, for example because they have a strong sun allergy or only go outside covered up for religious reasons or always use strong sun protection.
• People who are dark-skinned, as the sun’s UVB rays are better blocked by the increased melanin content in the skin.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side and if possible beforehand, you should seek a medical consultation. Because one overdose can lead to serious health problems such as nausea, headaches, reduced muscle tone and even kidney failure.

That is why vitamin D is important

Vitamin D contributes to bone stability and tooth preservation. It also strengthens the immune system, which ultimately makes it less susceptible to infections and respiratory diseases.

This is where vitamin D occurs naturally

80 to 90 percent of vitamin D is formed by the body itself through exposure to sunlight through the skin. To ensure adequate care, the German Society for Nutrition recommends exposing your face, hands and arms uncovered and without sun protection (for 10 to 25 minutes) two to three times a week between March and October. However, you should definitely avoid sunburn. In the winter months, there is not enough solar radiation in our latitudes. However, the body can access vitamin D stored in fat and muscle tissue. In addition, walks at lunchtime are recommended during this time, when the sun is at its highest.

Diet accounts for the remaining 10 to 20 percent of vitamin D supply. However, only a few foods contain significant amounts of vitamin D. In addition, they are consumed rarely or in small amounts in Germany.

These are the top 5 foods high in vitamin D:

1. Cod liver oil (250 µg per 100g)

2. Oily fish and seafood

• Atlantic herring (25 µg per 100g)
• Sardine (25 µg per 100g)
• Eel (20 µg per 100g)
• Salmon (16 µg per 100g)
• Greenland halibut (15 µg per 100g)
• Baltic herring (7.8 µg per 100g)

3. Eggs: especially the yolk (5.6 µg per 100g)

4. Selected plant foods

• Margarine (2.5 to 7.5 µg per 100g)
• Porcini mushroom, raw (3.1 µg per 100g)
• Chanterelle, raw (2.1 µg per 100g)
• Mushroom, raw (1.9 µg per 100g)
• Avocados (3.43 µg auf 100g)

5. Dairy products

• Processed cheese, 45% fat (3.1 µg per 100g)
• Butter (1.5 to 2.5 µg per 100g)
• Gouda (1.3 µg per 100g)
• Emmental (1.1 µg per 100g)
• Yoghurt (0.3 µg per 100 g)