Reduce Risk of Melanoma with Calcium and Vitamin D

In a recent study conducted at the Stanford University School of Medicine, researchers have at the conclusion that a daily intake of calcium and vitamin D reduced the risk of melanoma in women. However, the researchers as of now are also of the opinion that the risk of melanoma is reduced only in those women who have had a prior history of non-melanoma skin cancer. The combination of calcium and vitamin D did not reduce the risk of melanoma in women who did not have any prior risk or history of non-melanoma.

Researchers used the data collected by Women’s Health Initiative which followed the health chart of 36000 women for 7 years for a different study. The women were aged between 50 and 79 and half of them had received a daily dose of calcium and vitamin D. This was administered to one part of the group and the other part of the group was put on placebo pill and vitamin D supplements. WHI while attempting the study was only looking at the benefits of vitamin D on bone health and colorectal cancer.

The authors of this current study are as of now stating that their study needs further research because of the low dosage of vitamin D that was administered to the sample during WIH’s study. Due to this the effect of vitamin D on women without any prior history of non-melanoma remains unearthed. Also both the groups within the sample were given equal amounts vitamin D during the study. So the effect of vitamin D in reducing the risk of melanoma also needs further investigation. Furthermore, it remains to be seen how vitamin D affects the risk of melanoma in women.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health. It is also vital for the replication of cells in various parts of the body including the skin. Therefore, it is highly possible that vitamin D is crucial for protecting against melanoma, which is a rare form of skin cancer.

This study was sponsored by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Stanford Medical School Medical Scholars Research Fellowship, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Centre for Research Resources.

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