Get 5 minutes of sunlight a day… Increasing cancer-fighting intestinal microorganisms

by times news cr

2024-04-28 21:11:35

Vitamin D is involved in intestinal microflora
Helps improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

Getty Images Korea

Research results have shown that vitamin D increases the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy by regulating intestinal microorganisms. Conversely, a domestic study showed that when the concentration of vitamin D in the body is low, indicators related to chronic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver worsen. It is pointed out that if you stay indoors for a long time, you may become deficient in vitamin D, so you need to be exposed to sunlight for at least 5 minutes a day.

Dr. Evangelos Giampazolias’ research team at the University of Manchester Cancer Research Institute in the UK confirmed through animal experiments that vitamin D increases intestinal microorganisms that have anti-cancer effects, and announced in the international academic journal ‘Science’ on the 25th (local time) .

It is known through previous studies that vitamin D participates in the intestinal microflora and helps regulate immunity. It is said to be associated with improved treatment effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are cancer immunotherapy drugs, and reduced cancer incidence and mortality rates. Intestinal microflora refers to the entire community of microorganisms in the intestines. However, it is not clearly known how vitamin D changes the intestinal microbial environment or enhances the effect of cancer immunotherapy.

The research team confirmed the relationship between vitamin D, intestinal microorganisms, and cancer immunotherapy through animal experiments. The bioavailability of vitamin D was increased by controlling genes and diet in experimental mice. Bioavailability refers to the rate at which a administered ingredient is absorbed into the circulating bloodstream.

As a result, when the bioavailability of vitamin D increased, changes in the intestinal microflora occurred in a direction favorable to the anaerobic gram-negative bacterium ‘Bacteroides fragilis’. This bacterium is a microorganism that exists in both mice and humans. As Bacteroides fragilis increased, resistance to melanoma development occurred and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors improved.

The research team also confirmed that when feces from mice with improved cancer immunotherapy effects due to changes in the intestinal microflora were transplanted to other mice, the transplanted mice’s cancer immunity was also strengthened. The research team said, “This has not yet been confirmed through animal experiments, but humans also have Bacteroides fragilis. It is analyzed that regulating intestinal microorganisms through vitamin D has the potential to increase the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy in humans as well.” .

A recent analysis showed that vitamin D deficiency helps manage chronic diseases. Hyeryeong Yoon, a professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Korea University Ansan Hospital, and his research team confirmed that the lower the concentration of vitamin D, the higher the levels of indicators related to chronic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver. The paper was recently awarded an Excellence Award at the Spring Conference of the Korean Society of Diagnostic Immunology. Received a thesis award. Indicators related to chronic diseases include waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, and total cholesterol, and as these values ​​increase, the risk of developing chronic diseases increases.

To replenish vitamin D, you need time in sunlight. If you receive sunlight through a window indoors, vitamin D may not be synthesized properly, so you should go outside and receive direct sunlight for 5 to 30 minutes a day. People who find it difficult to engage in outdoor activities during bright hours due to the nature of their jobs can take vitamin D supplements. However, unless you are vitamin D deficient, taking vitamin D supplements is not recommended. This is because there are academic reports that overdosing on vitamin D increases the risk of fractures, and taking it mixed with calcium increases the risk of heart disease.


Donga Science Reporter Moon Se-young [email protected]

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2024-04-28 21:11:35

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