Vitamin D Not Linked to Prostate Cancer Protection
Posted on: Wednesday, 28 May 2008, 11:07 CDT
Although previous research has claimed to have found links between vitamin D and a lowered risk of prostate cancer, authors of a new study say that they were unable to make the same conclusion.The so-called sunshine vitamin is said to have benefits of protecting against certain types of cancer, like colon and breast cancer, as well as other ailments.
Researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute studied concentrations of vitamin D in the blood of 749 men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, as well as 781 men who did not have the disease.
No link could be determined between high concentrations of vitamin D and lowered prostate cancer risk. In fact, although it was not statistically significant, researchers said that some findings showed an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer in men with higher blood levels of vitamin D.
"In our study, we didn't see any protective effect of vitamin D in relation to prostate cancer risk," said Jiyoung Ahn of the U.S . National Cancer Institute, one of the researchers.
Those with prostate cancer were diagnosed one to eight years after the blood samples were given, the researchers said.
Vitamin D is formed within the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. It is also found in some fish and milk.
Earlier research had showed that vitamin D inhibited the growth of human prostate cancer cells in lab dishes.
Some studies have indicated it might provide other benefits. For example, one study published in January found that people with low vitamin D levels had an elevated risk for heart attack, heart failure and stroke, suggesting it may protect against cardiovascular disease.
But Canadian researchers reported earlier this month that women with breast cancer who had lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to die and more likely to have their cancer spread than women with normal levels of the vitamin.
Overall, 780,000 men are diagnosed annually with prostate cancer worldwide, with about 250,000 deaths a year. The American Cancer Society has named prostate cancer the sixth leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide.
---
On the Net:
U.S. National Cancer Institute
Source: redOrbit Staff and Wire Reports
Related Articles
- More than One-Third of Docs Say Risk Level Rising for Potential H1N1 Flu Pandemic
- Latinos in Chicago and Suburbs Face Alarming Numbers of Cases of Alzheimer's Disease While Thousands More are at Risk of Being Diagnosed
- Verse Group and Jupiter Research Release Breakthrough Study on Marketing During Economic Crisis
- Study Links Vitamin D Deficiency to Death Risk
- New Study Shows That Fitness Trumps Fatness in Determining Risk of Cancer Death in Men
- Small Business Research Board eCommerce Study: Nearly 30% of Small Businesses Expect Internet Sales to Increase Next 12 - 24 Months According to Latest SBRB Study
- Vitamin D Can Halve the Risks of Cancer; Scientists Claim Life-Saving Breakthrough
- Hemispherx Biopharma Signs Research Agreement With Japanese National Institute of Infectious Disease; Ampligen(R) Sought As Adjuvant for Nasal Flu Vaccine
- Seabird Droppings Raising Arctic Chemical Levels: Study
- PSA Testing May Miss Cancer in Obese Men
Rating: 3.0 / 5 (3 votes)
 |
 |
Rate this article:
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds