Vitamin DNEW2026-09

Association of Vitamin D Status With Total and Site-Specific Cancer Mortality From Tropical to Subantarctic Latitudes: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Chile.

Muñoz Gonzalo, Fraga Juan Pablo, Núñez-Ulloa Ignacia S, Passi-Solar Alvaro et al. — Cancer medicine

Summary

A study conducted across Chile, a country spanning diverse climates, explored the relationship between vitamin D levels and cancer mortality. Researchers found that regions with lower average vitamin D concentrations tended to have higher death rates from several types of cancer, including breast, kidney, and liver cancers. This suggests a potential protective role of adequate vitamin D against certain cancer-related deaths.

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Key points

A nationwide study in Chile found a connection between lower average vitamin D levels and higher death rates from various cancers.
This link was particularly strong for cancers of the breast, kidney, liver, and several other types.
Vitamin D levels were observed to decrease from the tropical north to the subantarctic south of Chile.
The findings suggest that maintaining adequate vitamin D status might be important for reducing cancer mortality risk.

What the study looked at

What the study asked: Researchers wanted to understand if there was a relationship between average vitamin D levels in different regions of Chile and the rates of death from various cancers. Chile was chosen because its long north-south span offers a wide range of sun exposure and, consequently, varying vitamin D levels. How the study was done: This was a nationwide population-based study that looked at data from 48 provinces across Chile. The scientists analyzed cancer-related deaths reported between 2002 and 2020. They compared these death rates with the average vitamin D concentrations in each province, which were obtained from a national health survey conducted in 2017. The analysis also considered other factors like body mass index and tobacco use to ensure a clearer picture. What the study found: The study revealed a significant inverse association: provinces with lower average vitamin D levels tended to have higher death rates from many types of cancer. This link was particularly strong for breast, kidney, liver, endometrial, thyroid, colorectal, and larynx cancers. They also noted that vitamin D levels generally decreased from the tropical northern regions to the subantarctic southern regions of Chile.

Dietary takeaway

While this study suggests a link between lower vitamin D levels and increased cancer mortality, it's important to remember that it doesn't prove cause and effect. However, ensuring adequate vitamin D intake through foods like fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), fortified dairy products, and some sun exposure remains a sensible health strategy. Always discuss vitamin D supplementation with a healthcare provider, as more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: An association of low vitamin D (VD) status with increased cancer mortality has been described, and Chile provides an ideal setting to evaluate this association given its extensive latitude span (17°S-56°S). METHODS: We performed a nationwide population-based ecological study of all and specific cancer deaths from 2002 to 2020, in which mean 25(OH)D concentrations were obtained from the 2017 Chilean National Health Survey and associations with cancer deaths were assessed across 48 provinces. Multiple regression models including body mass index and tobacco use were performed to account for other carcinogenic factors. RESULTS: For the studied period, 446,237 cancer-associated deaths were reported. Provincial mean 25(OH)D ranged between 11.8 and 25.8 ng/mL, displaying a significant north-south decreasing gradient, and provincial mean 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely correlated with age-standardized death rates for multiple cancer types, being strongest for breast, kidney, and liver cancer. Multiple regression models revealed significant inverse associations for 21 of the 27 cancer types analyzed, being strongest for endometrial, thyroid, colorectal, liver, kidney, and larynx cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Significant inverse associations between 25(OH)D concentrations and multiple cancer-type mortality were found across Chile, confirming the association of low VD status with colorectal and breast cancer mortality, while providing novel ecological evidence of an inverse association between 25(OH)D concentrations and several cancer types for which a relationship with VD has been less established. These findings should inform public policies regarding cancer screening and treatment across different latitudes, and prompt evaluation of VD supplementation and fortification for reduction of site-specific cancer mortality.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1002/cam4.72273