Interaction of Vitamin D Supplements and Marine n-3 Fatty Acids on Digestive Tract Cancer Prognosis

Fukuzato et al., 2024 | Nutrients | Meta Analysis

Citation

Fukuzato Soichiro, Ohdaira Hironori, ... Urashima Mitsuyoshi. Interaction of Vitamin D Supplements and Marine n-3 Fatty Acids on Digestive Tract Cancer Prognosis. Nutrients. 2024-Mar-22;16(7). doi:10.3390/nu16070921

Abstract

A meta-analysis suggested that marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), e.g., eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), might reduce cancer mortality. However, a randomized clinical trial of marine n-3 PUFA and vitamin D supplementation failed to verify this benefit. This study aimed to investigate the potential interaction between vitamin D supplementation and serum EPA and DHA levels. This post hoc analysis of the AMATERASU trial (UMIN000001977), a randomized controlled trial (RCT), included 302 patients with digestive tract cancers divided into two subgroups stratified by median serum levels of EPA + DHA into higher and lower halves. The 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rate was significantly higher in the higher half (80.9%) than the lower half (67.8%; hazard ratio (HR), 2.15; 95% CI, 1.29-3.59). In the patients in the lower EPA + DHA group, the 5-year RFS was significantly higher in the vitamin D (74.9%) than the placebo group (49.9%; HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24-0.78). Conversely, vitamin D had no effect in the higher half, suggesting that vitamin D supplementation only had a significant interactive effect on RFS in the lower half (p for interaction = 0.03). These results suggest that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of relapse or death by interacting with marine n-3 PUFAs.

Key Findings

These results suggest that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of relapse or death by interacting with marine n-3 PUFAs.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population digestive tract cancers divided
Sample Size 0
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Fatty Acids
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Vitamins
  • Prognosis
  • Vitamin D
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Meta-Analysis, Journal Article
  • Vertical: omega-3

Provenance


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