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Vitamin D supplementation does not improve survival in adults with digestive tract cancers
Clinical Question
Does vitamin D supplementation for secondary prevention in adults with digestive tract cancers improve survival?
Bottom line
In this trial, 2000 IU vitamin D supplementation per day did not significantly improve relapse-free survival in adults with surgically treated digestive tract cancers. A similar trial of high-dose vitamin D supplementation in the same journal issue also failed to find a survival benefit in adults with metastatic colorectal cancer. 1b
Reference
Study design: Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded)
Funding: Government
Setting: Outpatient (any)
Synopsis
Vitamin D supplementation has not been shown to prevent cancer but it remains uncertain whether it secondarily improves survival after cancer treatment. These investigators identified 417 adults, median age 67 years, who were surgically treated for digestive tract cancer between the esophagus and rectum. Between 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery the patients randomly received (concealed allocation assignment) vitamin D3, 2000 IU per day, or placebo. Individuals masked to treatment group assignment assessed all outcomes, including the primary outcome of relapse-free survival. Complete follow-up occurred for 99.8% of patients at a median of 3.5 years. Using intention-to-treat analysis, vitamin D supplementation did not significantly reduce the risk of cancer relapse or death compared with placebo.
Reviewer
David C. Slawson, MD
Professor and Vice Chair of Family Medicine for Education and Scholarship
Atrium Health
Professor of Family Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill
Charlotte, NC