Vitamin D supplements and cancer incidence and mortality: a meta-analysis
British Journal of Cancer , (10 June 2014) | doi:10.1038/bjc.2014.294
N Keum and E Giovannucci
Background:
Observational studies suggest that effects of vitamin D may be stronger for cancer mortality than for incidence. Yet, existing randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of vitamin D supplementation have limited power to examine the relationships as their primary end points are not cancer incidence or mortality.
Methods:
Meta-analyses of RCTs of vitamin D supplementation and total cancer incidence and mortality were conducted.
Results:
Over 2–7 years of duration, vitamin D supplementations had little effect on total cancer incidence (400–1100 IU per day, summary relative risk (RR)=1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.94–1.06, I2=0%; four RCTs with combined 4333 cases),
But significantly reduced total cancer mortality (400–833 IU per day, summary RR=0.88, 95% CI=0.78–0.98, I2=0%, three RCTs with combined 1190 deaths).
Conclusions:
Over 2–7 years of duration, the benefit of vitamin D supplementation may be limited to cancer mortality.