Study Reveals Vitamin D Effectively Reduces The Risk Of Colorectal Cancer To 58 Percent

Illustration of vitamin d effectively reduces the risk of colorectal cancer (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Vitamin D is not only important for bone health and immune system, the latest research shows that adequate intake from this vitamin can also reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer significantly by 58 percent.

Colorectal cancer includes colon cancer and rectum is indeed one of the most common types of cancer in the world. Researchers are interested in researching nutritional factors that can help prevent it and vitamin D is one of the main candidates.

In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, the researchers analyzed data from 50 studies involving adults with collorectal cancer, vitamin D deficiency, or those taking vitamin D supplements. The results show that vitamin D deficiency is closely related to the increased risk of colorectal cancer.

"Maintaining vitamin D levels optimal and ensuring intake from food or supplements is very important in preventing colorectal cancer and increasing patient prognosis," the researchers wrote in the report, quoted from the Hindustan Times page.

Data from several major previous studies also strengthens these findings. One of them is Nurses' Health Study, which found that women with the highest vitamin D intake had a 58% lower risk of being exposed to colossal cancer than those with low intake. Other studies say that high vitamin D intake can reduce the risk of cancer by 25%.

"These findings are reinforced by many epidemiological data, making vitamin D one of the most biologically plausible and most researched nutritional factors in the context of preventing colorectal cancer," said Veronika Fedirko, Ph.D., professor of cancer prevention at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

According to Dr. Wael Harb, a medical oncologist from the MemorialCare Cancer Institute, vitamin D has an important role in the immune system and inflammatory regulations.

"Vitamin D helps regulate the body's immune response," he said.

Vitamin D also works through a special receptor (VDR) in the large intestine tissue that affects gene expression related to cell growth and death.

Scott Keatley, a nutritionist from the Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy added that low levels of vitamin D could weaken the body's natural defense mechanism, allowing abnormal cells to survive and develop in the colon.

Vitamin D also helps reduce inflammation which, if out of control, could increase the risk of tumor formation, added Dr. Harb.

According to Ms.ika Fekete, Ph.D., lead author of studies and professors at Semmelweis University, some of the groups most vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency are the elderly, people who are rarely exposed to sunlight, owners of skin tones are darker, or people with chronic diseases.

"Vitamin D is not a substitute for screening or a healthy lifestyle, but is an important factor that can be modified and should be considered, especially in individuals with high risk," said Fekete.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), adults should get 600 IU of vitamin D per day, while for those aged 70 years and over 800 IU is recommended. Natural sources of vitamin D include sunlight, fish liver oils, fatty fish such as salmon and trout, mushrooms, and certified foods such as milk and Goodminton.

Although most people can meet vitamin D needs from food and sunlight, some still need supplements.

"If you have low levels of vitamin D, vitamin D3 supplements (colecalsiferol) are more effective than vitamin D2." said Keatley.

He recommends a daily dose of 1,000 '2,000 IU, but still needs to consult a doctor first. Because vitamin D dissolves in fat, Keatley recommends eating it along with fatty foods so that the absorption is more optimal.