Cancer and vitamin D supplementation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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#dietary-supplements #humans #middle-aged #neoplasms #vitamin-d

Cancer and vitamin D supplementation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Goulão et al., 2018 | Am J Clin Nutr | Meta Analysis

Citation

Goulão Beatriz, Stewart Fiona, ... Avenell Alison. Cancer and vitamin D supplementation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018-Apr-01;107(4):652-663. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqx047

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D status has been associated with a higher risk of cancer in epidemiologic studies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of vitamin D supplementation alone on cancer incidence and mortality. DESIGN: A systematic review was undertaken. MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, conference abstracts, and clinical trial registries were searched (last search March 2017) for RCTs investigating vitamin D supplementation alone. RCTs with ≥12 mo of follow-up and in participants with a mean or median age ≥60 y were eligible. During-study events were used as the main analysis, but after-study events were included in a secondary analysis. Subgroup analyses concerning different forms of vitamin D supplementation, 25-hydroxyvitamin D status at baseline, vitamin D dose, and exclusion of open-label trials were undertaken. RESULTS: Thirty studies in 18,808 participants were included in the systematic review, with a median follow-up ranging from 1 to 6.2 y. The results of the meta-analysis for during-study events showed no evidence of an effect of vitamin D supplementation for cancer incidence (RR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.15) and cancer-related deaths (RR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.70, 1.09). Including after-study events, the RRs were 1.02 (95% CI: 0.92, 1.13) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.03), respectively. These results did not appear to be affected by baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D status, vitamin D dose, or the exclusion of open-label trials. CONCLUSION: We did not find evidence to suggest that vitamin D supplementation alone reduces the incidence of cancer or cancer mortality, even after including long-term follow-up results.

Key Findings

Thirty studies in 18,808 participants were included in the systematic review, with a median follow-up ranging from 1 to 6.2 y. The results of the meta-analysis for during-study events showed no evidence of an effect of vitamin D supplementation for cancer incidence (RR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.15) and cancer-related deaths (RR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.70, 1.09). Including after-study events, the RRs were 1.02 (95% CI: 0.92, 1.13) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.03), respectively. These results did not appear to

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 18808
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Dietary Supplements
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms
  • Vitamin D

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d-cancer

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09