— Christine M. Kukka, Project Manager, HBV Advocate
Recent studies show a diet
rich in vitamin D can improve liver health in patients with hepatitis B.
A new study from Emory University in Atlanta finds that people with
high vitamin D levels have lower rates of liver cancer.
The researchers examined
vitamin D levels and liver cancer risk among 520,000 participants in the
European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition between
1992 and 2010.
They compared vitamin D levels
in 138 patients diagnosed with liver cancer against other participants
who had similar ages and gender.
They found higher vitamin D levels were associated with a 49% reduction in liver cancer risk.
The higher vitamin D levels
appeared to confer protection against liver cancer even if patients had
pre-existing liver damage or a hepatitis B or C infection, according to
the report published in the February issue of Hepatology.
"Given the rising incidence of
this cancer in low-risk developed countries and the strong public
health interest surrounding the potentially cancer-protective roles of
vitamin D, additional studies in different populations are required,"
they wrote.
The body makes vitamin D when
skin is exposed directly to the sun. Skin exposed to sunshine indoors
through a window will not produce vitamin D. Very few foods naturally
have vitamin D, fortified foods provide most of the vitamin D in
American diets. Foods rich in vitamin D include fatty fish and milk.
Vitamin D is added to many breakfast cereals, some orange juice brands
and some yogurts.
Labels: Liver cancer HCC, Vitamin D
