Colorectal cancer risk reduced by this common vitamin, study suggests
A new study published in the journal Nutrients suggests that the common vitamin is effective in preventing and treating colorectal cancer.
Hungarian researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 50 previous studies that included more than 1.3 million participants, focusing on vitamin D's potential effects on cancer risk, immunity and inflammation.
"The most important finding is that vitamin D plays a critical role in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer," study author János Tamás Varga, PhD, associate professor at Semmelweis University in Budapest, told Fox News Digital.
"Our research clearly supports the strong correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (the primary form of vitamin D) levels and cancer outcomes."
Cancer patients with low vitamin D levels showed poorer prognoses.
Vitamin D has been shown to reduce inflammation, promote the death of cancer cells, inhibit tumor growth and enhance immune response, the researchers found.
"These mechanisms significantly influence the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer," Varga noted.
In addition to prevention, vitamin D supplementation was also shown to improve survival rates among patients with advanced-stage colorectal cancer, according to the research.
"The results suggest that the effect of vitamin D may depend on factors such as the dosage, the individual condition of the patients and the duration of treatment," Vargas added.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has previously referenced studies suggesting that vitamin D could lower cancer risk, particularly colorectal cancer.
"However, large studies have not found that vitamin D supplements lower the risk of colorectal polyps (pre-cancerous growths) or cancer," the ACS stated on its website.
"The optimal dosage should be tailored to the individual's health condition and current vitamin D levels."
One important limitation of the research is that the studies included in the analysis used different vitamin D dosages and involved patients at various stages of cancer, the authors noted.
They called for further research to accurately determine the optimal dosage and "therapeutic efficacy."
"Based on our research, we recommend that individuals at high risk of colorectal cancer monitor their vitamin D levels and, if necessary, take a daily vitamin D supplement of 1000–4000 IU, especially for those with low vitamin D levels," lead study author Dr. Monika Fekete, medical doctor at Semmelweis University, told Fox News Digital.
"The optimal dosage should be tailored to the individual's health condition and current vitamin D levels."
For physicians, the researchers suggest routinely measuring and supplementing vitamin D levels for both prevention and treatment purposes.
"Vitamin D plays a crucial role in the treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer, but further research is needed to determine the optimal dosage and the specific role of genetic factors," Fekete added.
"The molecular mechanisms of vitamin D — such as the regulation of oncogenes (mutated genes that can lead to cancer) and inhibition of tumor progression — require further scientific investigation."
As the effect of vitamin D is closely linked to the patient's condition, the doctor said, treatment recommendations should be personalized.
The primary source of vitamin D is exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.
It can also be obtained from dietary sources, according to the ACS, including fatty fish and some mushrooms.
There are also some vitamin D-fortified foods, including milk, some orange juices and cereals, the above source stated.
People can also take vitamin D supplements to boost their levels.
"Most Americans do not get enough vitamin D in their diets, and many have low vitamin D levels in their blood," the ACS said on its website.
"While the role of vitamin D in lowering cancer risk is still an active area of research and debate, avoiding low vitamin D levels is recommended."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Ancient DNA suggests ancestors of Estonians, Finns and Hungarians lived in Siberia 4,500 years ago
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Present-day speakers of Hungarian, Finnish and Estonian have substantial Siberian ancestry, a new study of ancient genomes finds. These roots likely spread westward from a group of people living in the forest steppes of the Altai Mountains of Central and East Asia 4,500 years ago. Ancient DNA revealed that this group was patrilineal, or organized based on descent from fathers. However, while ancient DNA can show where a group moved over time, it's challenging to use genetics to track language. So experts have noted that the results do not definitively prove a link between speakers of these languages and the ancient DNA pattern. Migrating out of Siberia In a study published July 2 in the journal Nature, researchers analyzed 180 people who lived in northern Eurasia between the Mesolithic period and the Bronze Age (11,000 to 4,000 years ago). The team then added these individuals to a database of more than 1,300 previously analyzed ancient people, and then compared these genomes to those of modern people. One significant finding came from the genomes dating to the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (4,500 to 3,200 years ago). They discovered that the geographical locations of ancient people with a DNA pattern they termed Yakutia_LNBA were "unambiguously associated with ancient and present-day Uralic-speaking populations," the researchers wrote in the study. Related: Can you forget your native language? Uralic languages are a group of more than 20 tongues spoken by millions of people, but the most prominent are Estonian, Finnish and Hungarian. Linguists have been interested in these three major Uralic languages because they are different from the Indo-European ones spoken in the countries around them. "Neighboring populations speaking Indo-European languages tend not to have Yakutia_LNBA ancestry, or any other kind of East Asian ancestry," study lead author Tian Chen Zeng, a graduate student in human evolutionary biology at Harvard University told Live Science in an email. "Yakutia_LNBA ancestry is the only East Asian ancestry present in the genetic makeup of almost all present and ancient Uralic-speaking populations." The researchers identified the Yakutia_LNBA group in the bones of people who lived between 4,500 and 3,200 years ago in Siberia. They may have been part of the Ymyyakhtakh culture, an ancient culture in northeast Siberia that had ceramic technology, bronze objects and arrowheads made of stone and bone. Archaeologists had previously found that Ymyyakhtakh pottery spread south to the forest steppes of the Altai-Sayan region near the intersection of modern-day Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China around 4,000 years ago. The researchers suggested the Yakutia_LNBA DNA pattern may therefore be tied to prehistoric Uralic-speaking cultures. "A straightforward interpretation of this is that Yakutia_LNBA ancestry dispersed from East to West alongside the Uralic languages," Zeng said. "We show that Yakutia_LNBA may serve as an excellent tracer dye for the spread of early Uralic-speaking communities," the researchers noted in the study. The scientists also found that this group, which eventually spread westward, may have been organized by patrilineal descent, based on Y chromosome patterns in the ancient DNA. The challenges of tracking languages But the association between genetics and language is complicated to prove, particularly in the past. "One's genetic make-up offers no insight into the range of languages one might speak, nor which of these one considers their primary language," Catherine Frieman, an archaeologist at Australian National University who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email. Because people communicate in complex ways, "I think we need to consider how multilingualism, including across language families, may have shaped or affected language spread and change," Frieman said. RELATED STORIES —'Universal language network' identified in the brain —Scientists find 'missing link' behind first human languages —Stone Age child may have been buried with a wolf While the researchers do not address multilingualism in their study, Zeng said that "it is extremely likely that ancient populations were multilingual." However, he said, "extensive language change would have likely involved migration — or at the very least the integration of a substantial fraction of linguistic newcomers into populations across a region — to a level that is likely to leave some genetic impact." But Frieman cautions that we need to be careful not to equate a genetic cluster to a specific language or family, particularly when thinking about how past people lived their lives. Although the study presents "an interesting and welcome focus on [ancient] DNA from eastern Eurasia," Frieman said, "this particular manuscript was largely designed to answer questions about population genomics," not language, Frieman said. Stone Age quiz: What do you know about the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic?
Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
Divers reveal images of 321-year-old shipwreck in remarkable condition off coast
A preserved shipwreck from 1703 was recently documented in stunning detail for the first time – with experts cautioning that it may not stay this way for very long. Researchers dove off the coast of Kent, England, to view the wreck of "The Northumberland" last summer. The Stuart-era ship was built in 1679 and sank during the Great Storm of 1703. (See the video at the top of this article.) The site was designated a Protected Wreck Site in 1981 — but it hasn't been seen so clearly until now. Officials revealed the results of the dive on July 31, sharing pictures of a shipwreck covered by marine sediment. The sands have aided the survival of the wreck, which is roughly 50 to 65 feet underwater. The dive was conducted by Historic England, British coastal contractor MSDS Marine and Dan Pascoe, the licensee of the wreck. Historic England told Fox News Digital that divers found an extensive hull structure, exposed deck planks and the wooden frame of the ship – which is "much more than previously thought." Among the finds were multiple wooden chests – some still containing musketballs – as well as one sealed chest with unknown contents. Researchers also came across seven iron cannons, along with copper cauldrons and rope. Experts cited shifting sands as the main threat to the wreck. Hefin Meara, a maritime archaeologist at Historic England, told Fox News Digital the sand on the coast of England is "highly dynamic." Only the most robust materials, such as anchors and iron cannons, tend to survive. "The Goodwin Sands provide an excellent environment for the preservation of organic material, such as ship timbers, rope and other objects," he said. "Once the sand cover migrates away from the wreck site, biological and physical processes can cause the wreck to deteriorate very quickly," he also said. "'The Northumberland' has so much potential to tell us more about the English Navy and ships of the period." He noted that archaeologists will continue focusing on surveying the site instead of removing the artifacts, which could jeopardize the integrity of the site. Pascoe noted that "The Northumberland" "has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the U.K." MSDS's Alison James emphasized the wealth of information that the wreck could provide about the Stuart era. "'The Northumberland' has so much potential to tell us more about the English Navy and ships of the period," she said. Many historic shipwrecks have been found and documented across the United Kingdom in recent years. In Feb. 2024, a teenager found an American Revolution warship on a Scottish beach. More recently, a former military pilot identified a 19th-century shipwreck in the English Channel.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
French woman's homemade dinner sparks fury with boyfriend who just wanted a burger
A French woman's homemade dinner sparked fury from her American boyfriend who wanted a burger instead, according to a viral post. The woman said she moved from France to the U.S. two years ago and has dealt with digestive issues since, according to her Reddit posting. 'For some reason, the food here makes me sick,' she wrote. 'My body seems to struggle to digest it.' 'Whether it's takeout or fancy restaurant food … I can't go to the bathroom for days, or I'm violently vomiting,' the woman added. The expat consulted medical professionals and, after multiple tests, was told that her body was probably 'not used to the amount of salt and preservatives' in American food. After incorporating more whole foods into her diet, her health improved, she said. She wrote that she began meal-prepping and cooking meals from scratch. 'My dad is actually a chef back home, so he was more than happy to send me some recipes to keep my diet interesting,' she said. 4 After incorporating more whole foods into her diet, she began to feel better, she said in the post. Reddit/r/AmITheAngel But one of her recipes – a 'delicious' vegetarian lasagna made from scratch – caught the ire of her American partner. When he asked what was for dinner, the boyfriend 'rolled his eyes' when he found out it was lasagna, the woman wrote. '[H]e was sick of 'that organic crap' and wanted a cheeseburger,' she recounted. 'The comment hurt.' She said he told her that 'it was unfair to 'make' him eat my diet.' The woman also clarified that she intended no ill will toward Americans and said she enjoys living here – and those who shared comments mostly sided with her. 4 Her boyfriend 'rolled his eyes' when he found out it was a vegetarian lasagna and not a burger, the woman wrote. ViDi Studio – 'You are not responsible for feeding a grown man because he doesn't want to put in the effort,' one of the top comments read. While most commenters supported her, some questioned whether the post was even real. 'Because this totally happened, what in the world have you been eating since you've been in the U.S.?' one person questioned. 'In today's America, it is not compulsory for the woman to cook her boyfriend or husband a meal every night.' 4 'You are not responsible for feeding a grown man because he doesn't want to put in the effort,' a supportive commenter wrote. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – Carole Lieberman, M.D., a psychiatrist based in Beverly Hills, California, told Fox News Digital the Reddit poster appears to have 'excellent taste in food, but bad taste in boyfriends.' She added, 'In today's America, it is not compulsory for the woman to cook her boyfriend or husband a meal every night – and certainly not a meal that the woman can't eat herself. Many couples share meal preparation duties and even enjoy it.' Lieberman, who lived in France for years, also attested that the food is generally better than what most Americans eat. 'The problem is that your boyfriend has come to expect home-cooked meals every night because you have spoiled him,' she observed, speaking to the woman who shared her story. 4 According to Carole Lieberman, M.D., a psychiatrist, the woman has 'excellent taste in food, but bad taste in boyfriends.' Rafael Ben-Ari – 'He feels entitled to dictate the menu as well.' 'Perhaps you should remind him that there are many American men who would be delighted to have a French girlfriend cook for them.' Lieberman encouraged the Redditor to reevaluate her relationship. 'Perhaps you should remind him that there are many American men who would be delighted to have a French girlfriend cook for them, regardless of whether she's making vegetarian lasagna or veal escalope.'
