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- Vitamin D, produced by skin exposure to sunlight and found in some foods and supplements, supports bone health, immune function and may reduce melanoma and other skin cancer risk.
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- A study showed regular vitamin D supplementation was linked to a significantly lower incidence of melanoma and other skin cancers.
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- Deficiency in vitamin D is common and can cause bone disorders like rickets and osteomalacia, plus increase risks of infections, muscle weakness and mood disorders.
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- Low vitamin D levels are tied to worse melanoma outcomes, including thicker tumors and more aggressive disease, especially in older adults, those with darker skin or limited sun exposure.
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- Maintaining vitamin D through safe sun exposure, vitamin D-rich foods (fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified products) and supplements (preferably D3) is key, especially for high-risk groups.
Vitamin D, often called the “sunshine vitamin,” is well known for its role in bone health, calcium metabolism and immune support. Produced in the skin in response to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from sunlight, it also circulates in the body through dietary sources and supplements.
Recent studies are now turning attention to its potential protective effects against melanoma and other skin cancers, beyond its more familiar functions. A recent cross?sectional study published in Melanoma Research examined nearly 500 adults aged 21 to 79 who were at risk of skin cancer. Participants were grouped by their self?reported use of oral vitamin D supplements: Non?users, occasional users and regular users.
The findings were striking: Those who took vitamin D regularly had a significantly lower incidence of melanoma and any type of skin cancer compared to those who did not supplement. Meta?analyses have also found that patients with melanoma often have lower vitamin D levels at diagnosis, and that lower levels are associated with worse prognostic features such as greater tumor thickness and presence of ulceration.