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For your health June 2024 (Vol. 18, No. 6) |
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Editorial Staff
Could having a healthy gut flora be one way to reduce your risk of cancer? Research has shown that certain gut bacteria boost your immunity to cancer. And one way to boost those bacteria is to get enough vitamin D. These bacteria: Bacteroides fragilis, It increases in response to vitamin D.
The results of this study are: ScienceMice fed a diet rich in vitamin D were shown to have improved immune resistance to transplanted cancer and response to cancer treatment. Although the mechanism of action is unclear, the research team believes that vitamin D acts on intestinal epithelial cells to Bacteroides fragilis(It is also present in the human intestine).
Interestingly, when mice fed a normal diet (not rich in vitamin D) were supplemented with the same bacteria, they also improved their resistance to tumor growth, but not in mice fed a vitamin D-deficient diet, highlighting the importance of the vitamin in gut-mediated cancer immunity.
This finding is even more meaningful when you consider that one in four Americans suffers from vitamin D deficiency. You may be one of the 25% who don’t get enough vitamin D. Your doctor can assess your condition and recommend appropriate steps to stay within the healthy range.
