According to a study recently published in the magazine Gastroenterology, increased Vitamin D intake and colon cancer screenings could help prevent the development of colon cancer or precancerous colon polyps in adults under the age of 50.
Data from over 116,000 female nurses between the ages of 25 and 42 years of age was analyzed. The data was taken from the Nurses’ Health Study II a prospective cohort study. Study participants were followed every two years and required to complete a self-administered questionnaire requesting data on their medical and health related information, lifestyle factors and demographics. Every 4 years participants were required to complete a dietary intake assessment. Researchers excluded participants with inflammatory bowel disease or individuals diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer (CRC).
Of the over 94,000 women who ended being included in the analysis 111 incidents of early onset CRC and over 3300 colorectal polyps were reported. The median intake of Vitamin D was 372 IU daily. The participants who were under the age of 50 and had higher Vitamin D intakes also had a lower body mass index and were less likely to spend their time watching TV, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and eating red meat. This group was also much more likely to be physically active, take Multivitamins, and consume dietary fiber, Folate and Calcium. In other words follow a healthy dietary pattern.
A reduced risk of developing early onset CRC in women who consumed between 300 but less than 450 IU of Vitamin D daily was seen when compared with women whose Vitamin D intake was less than 300 IU per day. Additionally the same risk reduction was seen in women supplementing over 450 IU of Vitamin D daily. Study results also show that there was an association between CRC risk and continuous Vitamin D intake that varies based on age of diagnosis.
Vitamin D deficiency has been steadily increasing over the last few years especially among young people.
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