Vitamin D could be a surprise weapon against cancer, new research suggests.
A study in mice published last week in the journal Science found that a diet rich in vitamin D changed the gut microbiome in a way that boosted immunity against cancer.
The micronutrient increased levels of the bacteria Bacteroides fragilis, which improves the immune response against cancer.
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Mice given vitamin D showed better responses to cancer immunotherapy and greater immunity against the development of new tumors, according to researchers from the Francis Crick Institute in London, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States and Aalborg University in Denmark.
“What we showed here was a surprise: vitamin D can regulate the intestinal microbiome to promote healthy type of bacteria this gives the mice better immunity against cancer,” said the study’s lead author, Caetano Reis e Sousa, head of Crick’s immunobiology laboratory, in a press release.
Dietary vitamin D, found in foods like salmon, increases levels of the bacteria Bacteroides fragilis, which has been shown to improve the immune response against cancer. (iStock)
“This could one day be important for the treatment of cancer in humans.”
Researchers don’t yet know why vitamin D seems to promote a “good” microbiome.
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“If we can answer this question, we could uncover new ways in which the microbiome influences the immune system, potentially offering exciting possibilities in the prevention or treatment of cancer,” said co-author Evangelos Giampazolias, a former postdoctoral researcher. at Crick and now group leader of the cancer immunosurveillance group at Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, in the release.
Previous studies have linked vitamin D to better immunity against cancer. (iStock)
Shama Farooq, MD, a neuro-oncologist at the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, was not involved in the study but shared comments on the findings.
“As a doctor who treats cancer patientsmy first reaction to this study was one of intrigue and optimism,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“The results suggest a potential link between vitamin D levels, the microbiome and cancer immunity, providing potential new avenues for improving cancer treatment and prevention strategies.”
Continuing research Improving the body’s immunity to cancer is “crucial”, Farooq noted.
“Cancer is a complex disease with various escape mechanisms,” he said.
The micronutrient increased levels of the bacteria Bacteroides fragilis, which improves the immune response against cancer. (iStock)
“By exploring new ways to enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells, researchers can further develop…
