Umbrella Review on the Relationship Between Vitamin D Intake and Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Cancer is a leading cause of death in the European Union.
• Vitamin D deficiency is implicated in cancer development through various mechanisms.
• Existing reviews on vitamin D's extra-skeletal effects often neglect its role in cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the association between vitamin D intake and five major cancers: breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, and prostate.
• To synthesize current evidence on vitamin D's potential role in cancer prevention and mortality reduction.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of umbrella reviews and observational studies.
• Analysis of data on vitamin D intake (dietary and supplementation).
• Focus on breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancer incidence and mortality.

Main Results:

• Vitamin D intake shows potential preventive effects for breast, colorectal, and lung cancers.
• A possible reduction in colorectal cancer mortality was observed with vitamin D intake.
• Inconclusive findings for other cancers; no data on pancreatic and lung cancer mortality.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D intake may offer benefits in preventing certain cancers and reducing mortality.
• Current evidence is limited by observational study designs and methodological challenges.
• Further high-quality research is essential to establish causality and clarify vitamin D's role in cancer.