Recent research indicates that supplemental vitamin D may help prevent melanoma relapse and increase the chance that tumors will be thinner if relapse does occur.
A retrospective study of patients with melanoma analyzed 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 intake for relapsers and non-relapsers. Forty-seven percent of non-relapsers and 38 percent of relapsers reported regular use of some form of supplementation (vitamin D supplement, multivitamin or fish oil), and 42 percent of non-relapsers and 31 percent of relapsers reported regularly taking vitamin D supplements.
After that study, a prospective cohort study followed up with 872 melanoma patients registered in the Leeds Melanoma Cohort for a median 4.7 years. Researchers analyzed self-reported vitamin D intake, examined blood tests, and correlated the data with melanoma relapse, and found that higher vitamin D levels were associated with lower Breslow thickness at diagnosis as well as reduced risk of relapse and death.
Source:
Modern Medicine: Vitamin D Supplementation Helps Avert Melanoma Relapse
