Vitamin D is among the most important nutrients essential for the development and maintenance of your bones and teeth, immunity levels, brain health, and inflammation. In the vast realm of cancer therapy, experts have always been trying to find ways for more effective treatment strategies. As medical science progresses, the potential role of Vitamin D in augmenting the effectiveness of cancer therapy comes into foray.

Various studies say there is a link between high vitamin D levels and decreased risk of developing cancer and a reduced cancer mortality rate. Experts have also analyzed the impact of using Vitamin D with a newer type of cancer treatment known as immunotherapy.

According to recent research by the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute at The University of Manchester in the UK, vitamin D helps balance the gut microbiome, which helps improve the way cancer immunotherapy treatments work on a mouse model.

Experts say vitamin D promotes cancer immunity by influencing the communities of ‘friendly’ microorganisms that live inside the bodies of animals.

“Vitamin D exerts its anti-cancer effects through various mechanisms, including regulation of cell growth, induction of apoptosis, and modulation of the immune response, thereby inhibiting tumor proliferation and metastasis,” Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit, Senior Director of Medical Oncology at the esteemed BLK-Max Cancer Center, told Times Now.

Dr. Rajpurohit also emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive assessment of Vitamin D status in cancer patients, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for disease prognosis and treatment response.

“The integration of Vitamin D supplementation into cancer treatment regimens has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing treatment efficacy and mitigating treatment-related adverse effects,” he added.

Also, according to scientists, vitamin D can decrease tumour invasiveness and propensity to metastasize, leading to reduced cancer mortality. Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25[OH]D levels at diagnosis have been linked to longer survival in cancer patients.

Experts believe that vitamin D levels should be within the normal range to not just prevent cancers, but also because the nutrient plays a very important role in bone density, reduction in fractures, and reducing the chance of osteoporosis.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health says levels of 50 nanomoles per liter of vitamin D or above are the healthy range for bone and overall health for most people. Levels below 30 nanomoles per liter or above 125 nanomoles per liter may cause health issues.

Important natural sources of vitamin D you can take from your daily diet include: