Rung 3 · Moderate
Vitamin D, taken daily if low
Doesn't prevent cancer, but daily doses may lower cancer deaths.
PreventionWith your doctor
What studies found
The 25,871-person VITAL trial (2,000 IU daily) found no drop in cancer incidence. Pooled trials show about 13% fewer cancer deaths with daily dosing, a benefit not seen with large infrequent doses.
The catch
Higher doses have not been well tested for cancer outcomes, and too much vitamin D is harmful.
What to do
Ask for a blood test. If low, take the daily dose your doctor recommends.
Sources
Rung 3 of 5, Moderate: Consistent observational studies or small trials, not yet confirmed by large trials. How we score
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
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Every option we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.