Apr 30, 2014 10:41 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Intake of vitamin D increases survival rates in cancer patients, a new study states.

China-based researchers found that higher levels of vitamin D reduce cancer-related deaths.

For the study, the research examined the vitamin D levels in 17, 332 cancer patients. "Our analysis demonstrated that vitamin D levels are linked to better outcomes in several types of cancer," one of the study's authors, Hui Wang, MD, PhD, professor at the Institute for Nutritional Sciences at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences in Shanghai, said in a news release. "The results suggest vitamin D may influence the prognosis for people with breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lymphoma, in particular."

This research analyzed data from 25 separate studies that measured vitamin D levels in cancer patients at the time of diagnosis and monitored survival rates. Researchers pointed out that participants had their vitamin D levels measured before undergoing cancer treatment.

According to the study findings, 10 nmol/L increase in vitamin D levels upped the cancer survival rates by 4 percent.

This was effectively seen in breast cancer, lymphoma and colorectal cancer. But, vitamin D levels were found to be less useful for those with lung cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma. However, levels of vitamin D still showed a positive correlation.

"Considering that vitamin D deficiency is a widespread issue all over the world, it is important to ensure that everyone has sufficient levels of this important nutrient," Wang said in a news release. "Physicians need to pay close attention to vitamin D levels in people who have been diagnosed with cancer."

The findings are published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

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