Introduction to Vitamin D and Its Use
Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy. It helps control calcium and phosphate levels and keeps our bones strong. Researchers have started to look at how vitamin D affects the immune system and how it might help cancer patients. Research suggests that vitamin D has an impact on how our immune system works, which could lead to better results for cancer patients by giving their immune response a boost.
Vitamin D and the Immune System
Vitamin D has an influence on immune function through its effect on the innate and adaptive immune systems. It boosts the ability of immune cells like macrophages and dendritic cells to fight pathogens (1). Also, vitamin D affects T-cells and B-cells, which the body needs to defend against cancer and infections. It binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in immune cells to change their behavior and help control inflammation and immune response (2).
Vitamin D Deficiency in Cancer Patients
Cancer patients often lack vitamin D. This happens because of their illness or treatments. Chemo radiation, and some cancer drugs can stop the body from taking in or using vitamin D well. When someone doesn't have enough vitamin D, their immune system gets weaker, which makes it makes it easier for them to get sick and harder for their body to fight cancer cells (3). Also, deficiency in vitamin D can make people tired, cause their bones to hurt, and make their muscles weak. These problems can make cancer treatment even tougher (3).
Research on Vitamin D's Role in Cancer Treatment
It has been documented that sufficient levels of vitamin D can enhance the efficiency of the immune system and probably improve the outcome of cancer therapy. Research indicates that vitamin D may aid the body in fighting cancer cells, reducing inflammation, and enhancing the efficacy of certain cancer therapies. (5) Some research indicated that cancer patients with higher levels of vitamin D in their bodies tend to survive longer and have a better quality of life.
Vitamin D might also decrease some of the adverse effects, namely fatigue and muscle weakness, of treatments for cancers. Both the disease process itself and the treatments can cause these problems. Much more research is required to fully explain the relationship between vitamin D and cancer. From what is known at this time, supplemental vitamin D appears to be useful as an adjunctive treatment during the medical treatment of cancer.
Vitamin D’s Influence on Cancer Patients
Research shows that vitamin D affects immune cell activity in ways that could help cancer patients. It balances pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to prevent the immune system from overreacting, which can lead to autoimmune issues. It also boosts natural killer (NK) cell function, which helps to spot and kill cancer cells (6). What's more, vitamin D encourages cytokine production, which aids in coordinating immune responses. By boosting immune cell function, vitamin D might improve the body's ability to find and destroy cancer cells resulting in better treatment results (6). Also, this vitamin might change the tumor environment affecting how cancer cells grow and spread.
Sources of Vitamin D for Cancer Patients
Sunlight stands as the most natural vitamin D source triggering its production in the skin. Yet, cancer patients might not get enough from the sun alone, especially those on treatments that restrict sun exposure or weaken their skin's ability to make vitamin D. In such cases, they may need to turn to food sources and supplements (7)
Foods high in vitamin D include oily fish (salmon, mackerel tuna), dairy products with added vitamins, eggs, and some mushrooms (8). Also many cancer patients might need to take vitamin D supplements to keep their levels up if their blood tests show low vitamin D or they live where sunlight is scarce.
The Impact of Vitamin D: Conclusion
Vitamin D plays an essential role in immune function, and its deficiency can negatively impact cancer patients, weakening their immune system and increasing their susceptibility to infections. Having enough vitamin D in your body might boost your immune system, make cancer treatments work better, and cut down on side effects. This could lead to better results for people fighting cancer (2). We still need to learn more about how vitamin D and cancer are connected. But getting the right amount of vitamin D through what you eat, taking supplements, and spending some time in the sun could be a useful way to support the health of cancer patients (1).
Sources
Amirhossein Ghaseminejad-Raeini, et al. “Immunomodulatory Actions of Vitamin D in Various Immune-Related Disorders: A Comprehensive Review.” Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 14, 14 July 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10379649/, https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.950465.
Chun, Rene F., et al. “Impact of Vitamin D on Immune Function: Lessons Learned from Genome-Wide Analysis.” Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 5, 21 Apr. 2014, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2014.00151.
Cleveland Clinic. “Vitamin D Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15050-vitamin-d-vitamin-d-deficiency.
Vitamin D and Cancer - NCI. 9 May 2023, https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/vitamin-d-fact-sheet.
Vitamin D Deficiency Leads to Excessive B-Cell Responses in Multiple ... 11 Apr. 2016, https://www.nature.com/articles/nrneurol.2016.49.
Vitamin D in Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Review of ... - MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/16/18/3211.
The Effect of Various Vitamin D Supplementation Regimens in Breast ... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3085185/.
Vitamin D - Health Professional Fact Sheet. 26 July 2024, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/.
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