April 26, 2005 – Patients who have lung cancer surgery in the summer have a better chance of survival than those who have surgery in the winter. It is believed that the increased sunshine during the summer months, which causes the body to produce more vitamin D, is responsible for this. The chances of survival are also increased in people who consume more vitamin D in the form of food or supplements. It therefore seems that vitamin D could help curb the proliferation of cancer cells.
This hypothesis is the work of researchers at Harvard School of Medicine who delivered the results of an epidemiological study at the annual congress of theAmerican Association for Cancer Research which was held in Anaheim (United States) on April 18.
For almost six years, researchers followed 456 patients who had surgery to treat so-called “non-small cell” lung cancer in its early stages. The time of year each patient was operated on was recorded and their vitamin D intake from food or supplements was assessed using a questionnaire.
The survival rate of subjects operated on in the spring, summer or fall was 25% higher than that of subjects who had their operation in winter. In addition, subjects with the highest vitamin D intake were 28% less likely to die from their cancer than those with the lowest intake.
Combining summer surgery with adequate vitamin D intake, researchers estimated that the chances of survival five years after the operation were about 72% while they dropped to 30% in patients. operated in winter and whose vitamin D intake was low.
According to’American Cancer Society, up to 75% of people with lung cancer now die after two years.
Harvard researchers agree that the results of this study should not encourage patients and doctors to delay surgery so that it is performed in summer rather than winter. Indeed, it has also been established that early intervention offers a better chance of success. They point out, however, that an increased intake of vitamin D at the time of the operation could improve the chances of survival.
If the results of this study are confirmed in future trials, taking vitamin D could prove to be a simple and inexpensive intervention to improve the survival rate of patients with this type of cancer, the deadliest in the world. ‘we know at the moment.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to HealthDay News and Associated Press.
