Vitamin D & Cancer

Vitamin D and Breast Cancer

Low vitamin D may worsen the prognosis for women with breast cancer. In one study, women deficient in vitamin D when they were diagnosed had a 94% greater chance of the cancer spreading. They also had a 73% greater chance of dying over the next 10 years. Other studies suggest that vitamin D may even offer protection against developing breast cancer.

Vitamin D and Other Cancers

Vitamin D may offer some protection against at least two other cancers: colon cancer and prostate cancer. But vitamin D isn't a magic bullet. The cancer-fighting benefit may be limited to people who are otherwise healthy, not overweight, and exercise.

Vitamin D and Depression

It isn't clear how they are related. But studies have linked low levels of vitamin D to depression among older men and women. One possible explanation is that lack of vitamin D causes the parathyroid gland to produce more hormone. Low levels of vitamin D and higher levels of parathyroid hormone have been linked to depression severity.