Vitamin D Supplements Could Lower Risk of Melanoma

A new study, published in Melanoma Research, found that people who take vitamin D supplements regularly may have a lower risk of developing the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. ¹

Researchers used nearly 500 patients estimated to have an increased risk of developing skin cancer, then carefully analyzed their background information and medical history; conducted skin examinations; and classified the patients into low-risk, moderate-risk or high-risk cancer classes. They were then divided based on use of oral vitamin D supplements.

Upon conclusion, the study found considerably fewer cases of melanoma among regular users of vitamin D than among nonusers.

There were significantly fewer patients in the regular vitamin D use group with a past of present history of melanoma when compared with the non-use group, at 18.1% vs 32.3% (P = .021), or any type of skin cancer, at 62.1% vs 74.7% (P = .027).

Occasional use was associated with a reduced, albeit nonsignificant, risk, with an odds ratio versus non-use of 0.540 (P = .08).

For any type of skin cancers, regular vitamin D use was associated with an odds ratio vs non-use of 0.478 (P = .032), while that for occasional vitamin D use was 0.543 (P = .061).

There was no significant association between vitamin D use and photoaging, actinic keratoses, nevi, basal or squamous cell carcinoma, body mass index, or self-estimated lifetime exposure to sunlight or sunburns.

Study author, Ilkka Harvima, a professor of Dermatology and Allergology at the University of Eastern Finland, said it is still unknown what the optimal dosage of oral vitamin D is for the best benefits and recommends users follow the recommended US Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including reduction of inflammation as well as modulation of such processes as cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and glucose metabolism. Many genes encoding proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are modulated in part by vitamin D.

Reference

Kanasuo, Emilia; Siiskonen, Hanna; Haimakainen, Salla; et al. use of vitamin D supplement is associated with fewer melanoma cases compared to non-use: a cross-sectional study in 498 adult subjects at risk of skin cancers. Melanoma Research. Published December 28, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. DOI: 10.1097/CMR.0000000000000870.