Vitamin D supplementation reduces the occurrence of colorectal polyps in high-latitude locations
R. Liam Sutherland Preventive Medicine Volume 135, June 2020, 106072
Highlights
• In winter, Canadians do not receive enough sunlight to produce vitamin D.
• Vitamin D supplementation is needed to maintain 25(OH)D concentrations.
• Vitamin D may play a role in colorectal cancer prevention.
• Supplementation can reduce the odds of high-risk polyps in a screening population.
• Meeting the recommended dietary intake also reduces the odds of any type of polyp.
There is suggestive evidence for the role of vitamin D in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Due to high latitudes in Canada, many Canadians are vitamin D deficient throughout winter. In this analysis, we examined the association between vitamin D supplement use and high-risk adenomatous polyps (HRAPs). The study population was drawn from the biorepository at the Forzani & MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre (CCSC) in Calgary.
Individuals enrolled between 2013 and 2016 between the age of 50 and 74 years (n = 1409) were included. When examining the association between any supplemental vitamin D use and HRAPs, a protective effect is observed with an ORadj of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.33–0.96). Similarly, meeting the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin D (600 IU) is protective against HRAPs with an ORadj of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.62–0.99).
This study suggests that adequate vitamin D supplementation reduces the occurrence of colorectal polyps in high-latitude locations.