Private MD News

Vitamin D may lower the risk of obesity-related cancers

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Overweight individuals may benefit from vitamin D testing, as a new study has found that the nutrient may play a role in slowing the development of endometrial cancer, a disease that is commonly associated with obesity.

Individuals who are significantly overweight are at a higher risk of developing many chronic diseases. However, studies have shown that obesity increases endometrial cancer risk twofold. Additionally, those who are overweight and have been treated for the cancer are six times more likely to experience a recurrence of the disease.

However, researchers from Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center found that vitamin D effectively lowers the risk of developing the cancer. Leena Hilakivi-Clarke, who led the investigation, said that the findings could be an inexpensive way to help individuals reduce their risk of endometrial cancer.

"Vitamin D has been shown to be helpful in a number of cancers, but for endometrial cancer, our study suggests it protects only against cancer that develops due to obesity," she said. "Still, if these results are confirmed in women, use of vitamin D may be a wonderfully simple way to reduce endometrial cancer risk."