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Researchers find no link between vitamin D levels and prostate cancer

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Men with high levels of vitamin D in their systems are no less likely to receive a positive PSA test than men with low levels, according to a new review of scientific evidence from a team of UK researchers.

The conclusion comes as a disappointment to a medical community that has pinned high hopes on vitamin D. Previous studies have shown that the nutrient may slow down cell division, which if left unchecked can lead to tumor growth. However, the University of Bristol researchers found no evidence that this translates into a reduced prostate cancer risk.

For the study, the researchers examined the results of previously published investigations concerning the possible link between prostate cancer and vitamin D. The results of these studies showed no connection between the two.

"There's still a way to go before we fully understand the link between a person's vitamin D levels and their risk of cancer," said Sara Hiom, director of health information at Cancer Research UK. "There's no convincing evidence to suggest that vitamin D offers any protection against other types of cancer developing."