Vitamin D Trims Pancreatic Cancer Risk

CHICAGO--University of Chicago researchers culling data from two prospective studies found vitamin D intake correlated to risk of pancreatic cancer, while no such association was found with intakes of calcium or retinol. The study results appeared in the September issue of the Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention journal (15, 9:1688-95, 2006).

Halcyon Skinner, Ph.D., and his team documented incident pancreatic cancer rates from two cohorts--the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study and the Nurses' Health Study--involving 46,771 men ages 40 to 75 years (as of 1986) and 75,427 women ages 38 to 65 years (as of 1984) who filled out dietary questionnaires. After 16 years, there were 365 incident cases of pancreatic cancer among participants. The scientists found, compared to those taking just 150 IU/d vitamin D, those who took more than 600 IU/d vitamin D reduced their risk of pancreatic cancer by 41 percent, even after adjusting for age, smoking and physical activity. There was no such risk reduction attributable to intakes of calcium or retinol.

Skinner and his team concluded their results indicate a potential role for vitamin D in the pathogenesis and prevention of pancreatic cancer. However, they conceded their study did not include detailed information about vitamin D levels from sun exposure, and there is a possibility vitamin D accompanies some other factor that would explain the risk reduction.