It may be a good idea for individuals to take the nutritional supplement, vitamin D, as a new study suggests that a deficiency of the nutrient could potentially lead to skin cancer.
According to researchers from the Henry Ford Hospital, there is a link between vitamin D levels and basal cell carcinoma, which is the most common form of skin cancer. Though previous findings have indicated a link between various cancers and vitamin D, this study is the first of its kind.
Researchers examined 10 patients ranging from 43 to 83 years old and all of the participants had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. Biopsies were taken of the cancerous tissue as well as the surrounding normal skin tissue. It was found that patients with a vitamin D deficiency had a 10-fold increase in the amount of cancerous tissue.
“This finding may help us in future research to determine whether vitamin D plays a causative or reactive role in the development and progression of skin cancer,” said Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi, senior staff physician in Henry Fords Department of Dermatology and the studys lead author.