2023-04-24 11:07:49
Regions_follow-up
A new study revealed the superior ability of “vitamin D” to treat one of the most dangerous and common types of cancer.
A study in the journal Cancer suggests that maintaining normal vitamin D levels may improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy in patients with advanced melanoma, leading to better response rates and longer disease-free survival.
According to the study published in the Journal of the American Cancer Society, for patients with advanced skin cancer, it may be important to maintain normal “vitamin D” levels when receiving immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors.
To see if vitamin D levels might affect the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the researchers analyzed the blood of 200 patients with advanced melanoma before and after 12 weeks during immunotherapy.
A favorable response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors was observed in 56.0% of patients in the group with normal baseline levels of vitamin D or normal levels obtained with vitamin supplementation, compared to 36.2% in the group with low levels of vitamin D without. supplements.
The progression-free survival — the time from starting treatment until cancer develops — in these groups was 11.25 and 5.75 months, respectively.
Commenting on the study findings, lead author Lucasz Gallos said: “Of course, vitamin D is not in and of itself an anticancer drug, but a normal vitamin D level is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system, including the response affected by anticancer drugs such as point inhibitors. Immunocheck.
“In our opinion, after appropriate randomized confirmation of our results, evaluation of vitamin D levels and supplementation in the management of melanoma could be considered,” he added.
The main sources of “vitamin D” are:
Sunlight: The body can produce vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The amount of vitamin D produced depends on factors such as skin type, time of day and season, and latitude.
Food: Some foods contain small amounts of vitamin D, including fatty fish (such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines), fish liver oils, egg yolks, fortified foods such as milk and orange juice, and some cereals.
Supplements: Vitamin D supplements are available in two forms – D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Both forms can help maintain adequate vitamin D levels, especially for people with limited sun exposure or difficulty getting enough vitamin D from food.
It is essential to consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement to determine the appropriate dosage.
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