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Effects of personalized vitamin D3 on inflammation in colorectal cancer patients: a randomized trial.

  • 2026-01-08
  • British journal of cancer 134(6)
    • Tafirenyika Gwenzi
    • Alexander N R Weber
    • Kira Trares
    • Tomislav Vlaski
    • Marija Slavic
    • Sha Sha
    • Edelmann Dominic
    • Reiner Caspari
    • Bettine Bilsing
    • Harald Fischer
    • Cristina-Maria Fernandes-Almeida
    • David Czock
    • Ben Schöttker
    • Hermann Brenner

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 126
Population
126 CRC patients who underwent surgery in the past year and had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels < 60 nmol/L
Methods
randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial; personalized loading dose of VIDS, followed by a maintenance dose of 2000 IU/day or placebo for 12 weeks
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
12 weeks
  • Large Human Trial

Background

Low vitamin D status and inflammation are associated with poor prognosis among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We assessed the efficacy of personalized vitamin D3 supplementation (VIDS) for reducing inflammation in patients with low vitamin D status.

Methods

In an ongoing randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Germany, CRC patients who underwent surgery in the past year and had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels < 60 nmol/L were randomly assigned to either a personalized loading dose of VIDS, followed by a maintenance dose of 2000 IU/day or a placebo for 12 weeks. Changes in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1) were compared at the end of trial among 126 patients (65 in the placebo and 61 in the intervention group).

Results

The VIDS group exhibited 39.3% reduction in IL-6 levels compared to the placebo group (95% CI: -54.9% to -18.2%; p = 0.001). The reductions observed in IFN-γ and MMP-1 due to VIDS were not statistically significant (-6.7%; p = 0.69 and -5.4%; p = 0.23, respectively).

Conclusion

In CRC patients with low vitamin D status, VIDS reduces serum IL-6, a pro-inflammatory biomarker associated with poor prognosis. Further research should explore a potential supportive therapeutic role of VIDS in managing inflammation and improving CRC outcomes. [Words: 200].

Research Insights

  • Vitamin D→Reduced Interferon-gamma Level

    The reductions observed in IFN-γ and MMP-1 due to VIDS were not statistically significant (-6.7%; p = 0.69 ...)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    personalized loading dose followed by 2000 IU/day maintenance
  • Vitamin D→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

    The VIDS group exhibited 39.3% reduction in IL-6 levels compared to the placebo group (95% CI: -54.9% to -18.2%; p = 0.001).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    personalized loading dose followed by 2000 IU/day maintenance
  • Vitamin D→Reduced Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Level

    The reductions observed in IFN-γ and MMP-1 due to VIDS were not statistically significant (... -5.4%; p = 0.23, respectively).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    personalized loading dose followed by 2000 IU/day maintenance
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