Cancer 2.4X more deadly if Vitamin D deficient (Africa)
Magnitude of vitamin D deficiency among cancer patients in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Food and Humanity Volume 6, May 2026 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101037
Introduction
Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread problem in the world, particularly among cancer patients. However, it is not adequately characterized among cancer patients in Africa. Thus, we aimed to identify the overall magnitude of vitamin D deficiency among cancer patients.
Methods
We searched various databases and institutional repository centers including African journal of online, Embase, PubMed and Web of Science with appropriate search terms. Standardized data abstraction format was used to collect full information of included studies. A Random effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled magnitude. Forest plots were used to present the overall magnitude. Heterogeneity was checked using I-square and Galbraith plot. Subgroup meta-analyses were conducted to mitigate heterogeneity. Publication bias was checked.
Results
The study included 27 articles with a total of 3437 cancer patients. The pooled prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among cancer patients in Africa was 57.93 % (95 % CI: 50.19–65.67 %).
Vitamin D deficient cancer patients faced a 2.4-times more risk of death compared to those with sufficient vitamin D levels (AHR=2.37, 95 % CI: 1.39–3.35).
Additionally, the risk of metastasis was nearly a threefold (AHR=2.99, 95 % CI: 2.27–3.72).
Conclusions
Vitamin D deficiency among cancer patients in Africa became a significant problem as compared to the general population. Nearly three in five cancer patients experienced it. Therefore, developing effective strategies for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of vitamin D deficiency is crucial to mitigating its impact on cancer outcomes.
Vitamin D status in Africa is worse than in other continents - Jan 2020
About 50% of Africans who get Cancer die of it
Reasons include:
- low socioeconomic status,
- limited screening and early detection
- high prevalence of risk factors such as chronic hepatitis B/C (liver cancer), HPV (cervical cancer), tobacco, and “westernized” lifestyles
Vitamin D both treats and prevents Cancers
- Vitamin D Supplements Reduce Cancer Mortality – Greger
- Cancer incidence and mortality is decreased if 40-60 ng of Vitamin D
- Vitamin D and Cancer Mortality – review
- Vitamin D is Dr. Marik's top repurposed drug for Cancer treatment
- Better survival of many cancers if higher level of vitamin D
- Radiation Therapy for Cancer - Vitamin D is the most popular helper in Germany
Cancers Prevented by Vitamin D
- 15 Cancers prevented and or treated by Vitamin D - Sunil
- Cancer prevention starts with 30 ng of Vitamin D
- Vitamin D fortification in Europe preventing 27,000 Cancer deaths, could prevent 129,000
- Colon cancer both prevented and treated by Vitamin D – meta-analysis
- Evidence that Vitamin D prevents Cancer – Grant
- Molecular Link between Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention *