Is Vitamin D the single most effective medicine against cancer? Fact-Check

A social media claim is going viral stating that Vitamin D is the single most effective medicine against cancer. It claims that the vitamin exceeds the benefits of any cancer drug known to modern science would provide. See the claim:

Vitamin D is the single most effective medicine against cancer, far outpacing the benefits of any cancer drug known to modern science.

— healthbot (@thehealthb0t) March 31, 2025

It can be seen here and here. In fact, the same claim was shared in 2022 and 2023 as well.

FACT CHECK

As the debate over Vitamin D’s benefits to humans remained alive since the days of Covid-19, Digiteye India took it up for scrutiny in view of available research findings. According to a study by NIH National Cancer Institute, Vitamin D supplements do not reduce cancer incidence. The study accessible here, was published on November 10, 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) which tested 25,000 participants in a randomized clinical trial.

The study sought to link vitamin D for cancer prevention, but the results showed that the supplement given to participants did not reduce the risk of developing cancer. The findings in full can be seen here.

However, all the studies have underscore the benefits of Vitamin D in reducing the mortality rate as seen here.

Hence, vitamin D plays may play a key role in cellular health with ancillary benefits, but describing it as surpassing all cancer medications misrepresents the evidence available so far.

Claim: Vitamin D is the single most effective medicine against cancer.

Conclusion: Misrepresentation. While vitamin D plays a key role in cellular health, describing it as the single most effective medicine against cancer is false.

Rating: Misrepresentation —