How does Vitamin D help in Prevention & Management of Prostate Cancer?
In many western countries, the most common cancer after the lung is the prostate. As a malignant tumour it can be a major cause of death among men. The incident rates reported across the world can vary due to lower coverage of PSA screening. Prostate cancer is showing rapid increase among men who are obese and have other lifestyle diseases such as Diabetes. Age, ethnicity and dietary & active habits are also responsible.
The most common type of Prostate Cancer is that of Adenocarcinoma. There are other types which include Sarcoma, Neuroendocrine Tumors and other rarer Carcinomas. By identifying signs & symptoms of Prostate Cancer and early detection/screening there can be an effective increase in the survival rate of Prostate Cancer patients. Screening decisions can be based on a number of factors. In fact, discussing these with your doctor first will highly benefit you in choosing a suitable course of action. These can be individual risk factors, a person’s complete health picture and wellness goals as well as deciding the treatment plan if diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.
There is evidence that the risk of prostate cancer is higher among men living in Northern latitudes and due to poor prognosis of their Vitamin D levels. One such study tries to find the effect of skin pigmentation that reduces synthesis of Vitamin D. Thus putting African-American men at a cautiously higher risk than other races. The mechanisms and factors are still not as clear in establishing a direct correlation. In fact, it could also be due to lack of medical access, age, fitness and lifestyle related conditions. As many cancers, prostate cancer may grow slowly or rapidly depending on many factors. Prostate cells have Vitamin D receptors and enzymes that are required to metabolise it.
This lack of epidemiologic studies that can correctly correlate Vitamin D with risks of cancer is limited. Vitamin D is available through dietary intake, serum and sunlight exposure.
What is Vitamin D?
It is a fat soluble prohormone that is essential for maintaining the health of teeth, bones, nails etc. We can find it in small quantities in certain foods such as fish, eggs etc. and we can also find it in supplements. The skin also synthesises it in the form of D3. It is first metabolised in the liver then in kidneys and then passed through prostate and colon which are target tissues. A blood calcidiol can determine the levels of Vitamin D in the body. Lower Vitamin D levels could be due to many causes such as – increase in age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension etc. They also vary by race, ethnicity and by the region’s summer and winter seasons. Higher melanin levels also increase Vitamin D deficiency risk. The condition is known as Hypovitaminosis D.
Role of Vitamin D in preventing prostate cancer
Natural dietary sources apart from sunlight are present in Cod liver oil, eggs and dairy. Research shows that many men however fail to take in the required levels of Vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is freely synthesised in the skin through and is processed by liver & kidney subsequently to produce Calcitriol – the active hormone in Vitamin D. The major functioning of Vitamin D is to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorus and it has also been shown to exhibit antitumorigenic properties. This has sparked a debate and researchers are now garnering all data related to the effects of deficiency of Vitamin D with prostate cancer prevention. This also goes to show that Vitamin D contains anti-inflammatory effects which can be proven effective against enlargement of glands.
There is some data that suggests that Vitamin D may be an effective blocker in the Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) stromal cells. BPH is caused by the abnormal cell growth in the prostate gland. Statistically, there is a chance that almost 90% men over the age of 80 years can have BPH. This does not indicate the correlation with prostate cancer however. In fact, Vitamin D can also increase growth promoting molecules such as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone if the prostate gland does not produce sufficient amounts.
Many vitro experiments that have been carried out recently show that there is an active form of Vitamin D – 1,25-(OH)2D3 is capable of inhibiting prostate cancer cells. There is still a lot of research that needs to go into this. Another research has been made with AR. The AR is an important gene that contains the map or instructions to create a protein known as Androgen Receptor and as such is the key signalling component for the development of prostate cancer. Patients with advanced cancer or metastatic would require several treatments or therapies. In many cases it may also require surgeries or treatments like Androgen Deprivation Therapy, Chemo etc.
A study conducted among Japanese and American men produced interesting results. While the Japanese consume fish that are high in Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids. Also another study concludes a reduced risk of prostate cancer with increment in supplemental Vitamin D. Another interesting observation is that incident rates of prostate cancer go up with age and Vitamin D levels tend to decrease with age.
Want to know how else you can reduce the risk of Prostate Cancer?
Is Testosterone a mediator for Vitamin D?
Testosterone is responsible for driving cell division in the prostate. Some bind to the protein in the blood while others that don’t bind are called free testosterones. The relationship between Vitamin D and testosterone does not emerge clearly but there seems to be a positive relationship between the two. The male reproductive tract has been acknowledged as a target tissue for Vitamin D. It is highly likely that Vitamin D supplementation can increase testosterone.
Can lack of Vitamin D increase PSA levels?

Another direction in this study is the association of low amounts of Vitamin D and elevated PSA levels. Some evidence points to the fact that Vitamin D supplementing may be able to reduce PSA levels as well as increase the chances of survival among prostate cancer patients. The Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) is necessary to activate Vitamin D and variations in the DNA sequence are known as – Polymorphisms. These incidents have also been associated with higher risks of Prostate Cancer. However, the mechanisms through which Vitamin D is established or propagates itself is not completely established.
Recent advancements in patient care technology have made accurate diagnosis possible at early stages with minimally invasive medical devices like Prostametrix.
Possible side – effects of excessive Vitamin D
A condition caused by taking unusually large doses of Vitamin D is called Hypercalcemia. It is caused by intake of extremely large amounts of Vitamin D which the body is unable to synthesize and produces extra calcium. There may be many internal and external factors such as smoking, obesity, inflammation etc. In some cases Vitamin D deficiency has emerged as a biomarker to detect advanced prostate cancer progression.
Management of prostate cancer with Vitamin D
The overall data that is available is not sufficiently conclusive to state that Vitamin D can directly reduce the risks of prostate cancer. Some studies have found up to 40% reduction in risk for males supplementing their diet with Vitamin D. There are however, many ways to increase the level of Vitamin D intake in many ways. Some include these:
- Spend more time in the sun where the skin has a type of cholesterol that synthesises with the sun to create Vitamin D.
- Eating fatty fish and seafood as they are most natural and richest sources. One could take Oyster, sardines, tuna, shrimp etc.
- Mushroom is the only plant that creates a variant of Vitamin D as Vitamin D2. The kind of mushroom determines its Vitamin D content also as wild mushrooms contain the more naturally. However not all kind of mushroom are fit for consumption.
Prostate cancer is a major health problem globally as of today. With the condition being detected at an earlier age for men who are asymptomatic or have abnormal PSA levels. Our current lifestyle does not support outdoor activities where individuals are spending less time in the sun. Application of sun block also reduces intake of Vitamin D. There are conflicting results in studies where Vitamin D serum has even been considered in increasing prostate cancer risks while there is not conclusive evidence of sunlight preventing prostate cancer risks. The main reason is the epidemiological nature of identifying the risks of prostate cancer with Vitamin. There is simply not enough research data that we can bank on currently. The future however, may hold the key.
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Some studies show that methanol extract from a banana peel can suppress prostate gland enlargement and moderate the testosterone levels. Plant based foods such as soy, fruits, vegetables like potatoes, carrots are highly beneficial in reducing the growth of Prostate Cancer cells. Tomatoes are also high in Lycopene and act as antioxidants, protecting prostate health. Exercising every day for 30 minutes, being active and exposure to the sun is beneficial. Prostate massage therapy has also proven to act well in clearing prostatic duct or any excess fluid. Thereby, relieving any symptoms or discomfort. Consult your doctor before changing your diet or getting any therapy congruent to your health needs.