Vitamin D prevents and treats cancer in many ways

Newly-identified Pathways Relating Vitamin D to Carcinogenesis: A Review

In Vivo May 2021, 35 (3) 1345-1354; DOI: https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.12387

NADEEM BILANI, LEAH ELSON, CHARLES SZUCHAN, ELIZABETH ELIMIMIAN, MUSTAFA SALEH and ZEINA NAHLEH

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Background: The epidemiological relationship between vitamin D levels and cancer has been thoroughly investigated. Published data from large studies appear to corroborate a significant relationship between higher serum vitamin D concentrations and improved survival. Mechanistic reviews on commonly-studied cancers – including breast cancer, colon cancer and melanoma – focus predominantly on data from older studies. In outlining avenues for future research, we believe there is utility in summarizing novel findings introduced to the literature.

Materials and Methods: In this narrative review, we used MEDLINE, PUBMED and Cochrane databases to identify mechanistic studies published from January 1, 2015 onwards exploring this topic.

Results: Twenty-five mechanistic studies were included in this review. It was found that vitamin D plays a critical role in both

• direct

  • tumor gene expression, proliferation, invasiveness, sensitivity to chemotherapy etc. and

• indirect

  • effects on the tumor microenvironment and immunomodulation)

tumor suppression mechanisms.

Conclusion: These newly-identified pathways warrant further research, with the hopes that we may understand how and when vitamin D supplementation can be integrated into precision medicine therapeutics for cancers of the breast, colon and skin. Cancer care providers should consider recommendations to screen for vitamin D deficiency in this population.