This New Review Highlights the Important Role of Vitamin D for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer rates are increasing significantly, especially in countries that follow or have adopted a Western lifestyle and diet. It is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common in women. A new review highlights the important role vitamin D can play in correcting this concerning problem.

The comprehensive literature review included 50 studies of the role vitamin D plays in preventing colorectal cancer.

The results indicated that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. One 2023 meta-analysis of case controlled studies found a 39% lower risk with higher levels of vitamin D (Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 2023, 63, 1–17).

A 2022 meta-analysis of 31 studies found a 25% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer in the group with the highest vitamin D intake versus the lowest (Nutrients. 2022;14:1448). The large Nurses’ Health Study found that women with the highest vitamin D intake had a 58% reduced risk of colorectal cancer (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 1996;88:1375–1382).

Several studies have shown that supplementing vitamin D reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. A 2022 meta-analysis showed that every 100IU of vitamin D supplemented a day reduced the risk of colorectal by 4% (Cancer Causes Control. 2022;33:167–182).

Several studies have also shown that vitamin D leads to better outcomes in people with colorectal cancer, including better survival times in cases of advanced colorectal cancer (Oncotarget. 2017;8:40214–40221; Cancer Epidemiol. Biomark. Prev. 2012;21:582–593; Clin. Cancer Res. 2019;25:7497–7505).

This important new review concludes that vitamin D “plays a crucial role in both CRC prevention and treatment.”

Nutrients. 2025;17(8):1351.

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