Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that you can find in some foods or supplements. Vitamin D can also be produced directly by the body when your skin is directly exposed to sunlight, which makes it known as sunshine vitamin.

The main role of vitamin D in increasing the absorption of calcium and phosphate in the body, which can help maintain the health of your bones and teeth. Not only that, vitamin D also plays a role in reducing the risks of several diseases such as diabetes to cancer. According to the results of a study published in JAMA, the combination of high doses of vitamin D and chemotherapy is known to help inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting the metastatic process.

In the research, the researchers observed 139 patients with colorectal cancer who had never received treatment before. Some of them were given high-dose vitamin D, 8000 IU (international units) for 14 days, while the rest were given low-dose vitamin D, 400 IU per day. During the observation period, each participant continued to do chemotherapy activities as usual.

The results showed that groups that get high doses of vitamin D did not experience any development in their cancer cells for approximately 13 months. The researchers also found that there was only a little chance of death during the follow-up period (22.9 months). Those who received low-dose vitamin D also experienced slower development in their cancer cells for up to 11 months.

Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that grows in parts of the colon (large intestine) or rectum. Same with other types of cancer, to prevent the development of cancer cells, colorectal cancer patients are encouraged to undergo chemotherapy. This cancer starts with the appearance of polyp adenomas in the colon or rectum that develop into cancer cells.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from iStock

Source(s):

• Ng, K., Nimeiri, H.S., McCleary, N.J., et all (2019). Effect of High-Dose vs. Stadard-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Progression-Free Survival Among Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. JAMA, 321 (14): 1370-1379, DOI: 10,1001 / jama.2019.2402.
• Medical News Today - Vitamin D may help fight colorectal cancer (2019). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324984.php, April 29, 2019.