Daily vitamin D dose linked to cancer survival #IRepEntertain9jarBlog #TwitterTrendBlog via @myentertain9jar

A DAILY vitamin pill could increase the odds of surviving cancer, research suggests.

 

Patients with higher levels of vitamin D will live longer [GETTY]

Scientists have found that patients with high levels of vitamin D in the blood will live longer.

The University of Edinburgh team tested samples from almost 1,600 patients after surgery for bowel cancer.

The greatest benefit was seen in patients with stage 2 disease, where the disease has not yet spread.

Our findings are promising

Professor Malcolm Dunlop

The study authors now plan to set up a clinical trial to test whether taking vitamin tablets in combination with chemotherapy can improve survival rates.

Professor Malcolm Dunlop, of the Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Our findings are promising but it is important to note that this is an observational study.

“We need carefully designed randomised clinical trials before we can confirm whether taking vitamin D supplements offers any survival benefit for bowel cancer patients.”

The research, funded by Cancer Research UK, is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.