Scientists in Finland have observed people who took vitamin D supplements (VDS) were less likely to have reported a melanoma in the past or currently – and their risk level for future melanoma was significantly reduced compared to non-users of VDS.
The research at the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, published in Melanoma Research, involved 498 Finnish adults (253 males and 245 females, aged 21-79) determined by dermatologists to be at ‘high risk’ of skin cancer, such as melanoma, as well as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
Participants were divided into 3 groups based on VDS intake: non-use; occasional use; and regular use.
The researchers also examined whether regular use of VDS corresponded to higher blood levels of Vitamin D, known as seruym calcidiol or 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (the ‘storage form’ of vitamin D in the body) – as some research has linked low serum calcidiol with increased cancer risk.
After testing serum calcidiol levels in 260 participants, they found regular VDS intake corresponded with the highest levels of serum calcidiol and non-supplementation with the lowest levels.
Study lead author Professor Ilkka Harvima told medicalnewstoday.com: ‘The issue of vitamin D in the context of skin cancers is interesting, though quite controversial.’
Emphasising that it is too early to determine whether VDS could reduce melanoma risk in the general population, he said VDS alone is unlikely to be an effective medication to treat metastatic melanoma.
He explained: ‘This is important to note because there may be individuals in populations who might erroneously think so and then end up neglecting effective treatment.’
While noting some people may benefit from taking VDS, Professor Harvima recommended residents follow their own country’s national guidelines for daily vitamin D intake; for example, ‘in countries with short daylight in winter, like in Finland, one might consider a higher dose of vitamin D, perhaps 20-50 micrograms a day.’
