Failure to lower skin cancer risk with vitamin D
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, in Redwood City, California, evaluated the effects of vitamin D combined with calcium supplementation on melanoma skin cancers.
First, the details.
- 36,282 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative calcium/vitamin D study were randomly assigned to a treatment group for about 7 years.
- 1,000 mg of elemental calcium + 400 IU of vitamin D3 daily
- Placebo
- Nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers were recorded.
And, the results.
- The rate of nonmelanoma and melanoma didn’t differed between treatments.
- Women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer taking vitamin D + calcium had a significantly reduced risk of melanoma vs those taking placebo.
- This was not observed in women without history of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “Vitamin D supplementation at a relatively low dose plus calcium did not reduce the overall incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer or melanoma.”
But the suggestion of a potential role for calcium + vitamin D supplements in women at high risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer warrants more study.
7/21/11 22:22 JR