Vitamin D Reduces Melanoma Risk

Research shows that Vitamin D may play an important role in the reducing the risk for melanoma type skin cancers.

Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer and the leading cause of death for any type of skin disease. Each year, about 50,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with melanoma. It is the most common form of cancer in people in their 20s. Avoiding the sun and using sunscreen are a couple ways to prevent melanoma. Now, it seems as if researchers have found that Vitamin D may help reduce melanoma risk.

A study by the Osteoporosis Research Center of Creighton University in Nebraska showed that Vitamin D and calcium supplements helped prevent many types of cancer. However, this study showed that melanoma was not prevented with Vitamin D and calcium as other forms of skin cancer risk were reduced. This study used supplements of Vitamin D and Calcium rather than natural food sources.

Other studies, however, show that dietary Vitamin D found naturally in foods can help reduce the risk of developing melanoma type skin cancers. Vitamin D was found to suppress the growth of melanoma tumors in immunosuppressed mice. The results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention showed that those who ate foods rich in Vitamin D and carotenoids had less risk of developing melanoma than those who didn't.

The difference in the studies may be the difference in Vitamin D from supplements and natural foods. The natural sources of Vitamin D may be more readily available for absorption into the body to use where needed than Vitamin D found in supplements. Also, it could be a combination of Vitamin D and other nutrients that makes the difference.

Whatever the case, eating foods rich in nutrients such as Vitamin D is a good dietary choice. Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods to ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs. If recommended by your doctor, you may take supplements, but the natural food source is always preferable. Getting enough Vitamin D may reduce your risk of certain types of cancer including melanoma.

http://www.melanoma.com/whatis.html

http://www.ajcn.org/content/85/6/1586.short

http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v129/n7/full/jid2009147a.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15184262?dopt=Abstract&holding=npg