The involvement of vitamin D in prostate cancer has been quite confusing. Well, if this piece of information is to be believed, then vitamin D levels have no impact on the chances of developing prostate cancer in men. According to a recent research led by the University of Bristol, high levels of vitamin D in men’s blood do not offer any protection against prostate cancer.
Scientists conducted several experiments in laboratory which failed to gather any strong evidence of vitamin D levels and prostate cancer. It was observed that vitamin D is capable of delaying cell division, which appears as one of the fundamental changes that pave way for cancer. Investigations have also pointed out that people with high levels of vitamin D are less likely to develop bowel cancer. But its influence on other types of cancer seems to be foggy.
“Understanding the role that vitamin D plays in prostate cancer is important to help further our knowledge about why the disease develops. Until now there’s been mixed evidence and researchers have not known what role vitamin D plays. But this new review shows that higher or lower levels of vitamin D don’t mean men are more or less likely to develop the disease,†remarked Rebecca Gilbert of Bristol’s School of Social and Community Medicine, who led the study.
Vitamin D appears vital for health as it maintains normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Oily fish such as salmon, trout and mackerel are considered as good sources of vitamin D along with appropriate exposure to the sun. In conclusion, no apparent link between lower levels of vitamin D and increase in the risk of prostate cancer was noted.
The research is published in the Journal of Cancer Causes and Control.