Vitamin D enhances breast cancer survival rates, experts say
Breast cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Kenya. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
Women with lower levels of vitamin D were found to have advanced stage tumours and triple negative cancer.
Past research suggests that the beneficial effect of vitamin D is due to the fact that it has anti-tumour properties that regulate genes involved in the multiplication and spread of cancer.
Scientists have found that high vitamin D levels in the blood is linked to better treatment outcomes and increased survival rates in women with breast cancer.
According to a study whose results are published in scientific journal JAMA Oncology, researchers found that women with higher levels of the nutrient at the time of cancer diagnosis had fewer chances of succumbing to the disease or suffering a recurrence of the cancer.
On the other hand, women with lower levels of vitamin D were found to have advanced stage tumours and triple negative cancer.
The latter is usually very difficult to treat and manage as it does not respond to hormonal therapies used to treat other types of breast cancer.
Past laboratory research suggests that the beneficial effect of vitamin D is due to the fact that it has anti-tumour properties that regulate genes involved in the multiplication and spread of cancer.
According to the Ministry of Health, the disease is currently the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Kenya.
It is followed closely by cervical and oesophagus cancers.
This study follows in the footsteps of previous research findings that have highlighted the positive effects of vitamin D in the fight against cancer.
Foods naturally rich foods in vitamin D include fish oils, fatty fish, beef liver, cheese and egg yolk.
Some breakfast cereals and vegetable fat spreads are also fortified with the nutrient.
To increase the absorption of vitamin D in the body, foods rich in the nutrient should be prepared or consumed with some form of fat since the vitamin dissolves well in fat.
This is unlike vitamin C which is water soluble.
Vitamin D is also made naturally by the body when people expose their skin to the sun’s rays.
This is a well known fact that often pushes many people to ignore foods rich in this nutrient whilst assuming that they naturally have sufficient amounts of the vitamin since the sun shines all year round.
Yet, most people leave home early, get into a vehicle and proceed to spend practically the whole day at the office.
The sun is usually ‘long gone’ by the time they head back home in the evenings or at night.
Sitting by the window of vehicles does not help either since the sun’s warmth getting in is devoid of vitamin D-producing UVB rays which cannot pass through glass.
Due to their dark skin which have high amounts of melanin, Africans need to stay exposed to the sun for longer periods compared to paler or white-skinned people since melanin reduces the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight.
However, melanin offers some degree of protection from skin cancer among dark skinned people.
Those with low levels of vitamin D due to limited sunshine exposure or diet can still get the required amounts through supplements.
