Vitamin D Deficiency May Raise Bladder Cancer Risk

As concerns grow regarding adequate vitamin D intake, low levels have now been linked to a risk of bladder cancer, according to results presented this week at the Society for Endocrinology conference in the United Kingdom.

The findings add to a body of evidence suggesting that low vitamin D is detrimental to health.

Some vitamin D comes from the diet. Good sources include fatty fish and fish oil, dairy products, mushrooms, liver, and egg yolk. However, it is mostly synthesized when the body is exposed to sunlight. Dietary sources alone cannot normally provide sufficient vitamin D.

Vitamin D helps the body to maintain healthy levels of calcium and phosphates. Low levels have been linked to a range of health problems.

In children, it can lead to bone deformities, such as rickets.

Concentrations tend to decrease with age, and, in time, a lack of vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal women.

Low levels have also been linked to cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions, medicalnewstoday.com reported.

Vitamin D deficiency is common among people with limited exposure to sunlight. This includes populations from northern regions, where winter days are short, and those in climates where it is too hot to spend time outdoors.

Others at risk include those who cover up or use sunscreen with a strong SPF factor to avoid sunburn or skin cancer, those who cover their bodies for cultural or religious reasons, and those who stay out of the sun to keep their skin pale. People with darker skin are also more prone to low vitamin D levels.

Overconsumption of sugary drinks may have an impact on levels of vitamin D.

  Immune Responses

Researchers from the University of Warwick and Coventry in the UK, led by Dr. Rosemary Bland, wanted to know more about how synthesis of vitamin D might affect immune responses in specific tissues.

They carried out a systematic review of seven studies to investigate the link between vitamin D and bladder cancer. The number of participants per study ranged from 112 to 1,125.

Five out of the seven studies found that the risk of bladder cancer goes up when vitamin D levels are low. Higher vitamin D levels also correlated with better survival and outcomes in people with bladder cancer.

Researchers conclude that “bladder cancer risk correlates with low serum [vitamin D] levels.” Bland suggests that if this is confirmed, administering supplementary vitamin D could be a safe and economical means of prevention.

“Our work suggests that low levels of vitamin D in the blood may prevent the cells within the bladder from stimulating an adequate response to abnormal cells. As vitamin D is cheap and safe, its potential use in cancer prevention is exciting and could potentially impact on the lives of many people.”