Vitamin D cures cancer, say scientists

EU scientists have uncovered valuable information showing how vitamin D can fight cancer, maybe helping the development of new medicines.

The EU-funded Microenvimet study has that shown the active form of vitamin D3 encourages a gene CST5 to produce a protein called cystatin D, which has important tumour-suppressing properties.

"These results contribute to explain the higher susceptibility to colon cancer caused by vitamin D deficiency," the researchers said.

In experiments, Cystatin D proteins blocked human colon cancer cells in the test tubes and mice. Although they are not sure how this protein fights cancer, the researchers claim to have discovered "a novel mechanism of the anticancer action of the most active vitamin D metabolite..[providing].. a rationale for its preventive and therapeutic use against colon cancer."