The Simple Supplement That May Boost Breast Cancer Treatment Outcomes
Key takeaways
- Author: Ava Durgin April 30, 2026Assistant Health Editor By Ava Durgin Assistant Health Editor Ava Durgin is the former Assistant Health Editor at mindbodygreen.
- A recent randomized clinical trial1 shows that supplementing with a moderate daily dose of vitamin D significantly improved the odds that chemotherapy will completely eliminate breast cancer tumors before surgery.
- The trial enrolled 80 women aged 45 and older diagnosed with breast cancer who were about to start neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT), a type of chemo given before surgery to shrink tumors.
Why this matters: practical guidance grounded in recent research or expert insight.
Author: Ava Durgin April 30, 2026Assistant Health Editor By Ava Durgin Assistant Health Editor Ava Durgin is the former Assistant Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She holds a B.A. in Global Health and Psychology from Duke University.Image by Jeremy Pawlowski / Stocksy April 30, 2026When it comes to breast cancer treatment, any edge counts, and new research suggests vitamin D might just be a surprising ally.
A recent randomized clinical trial1 shows that supplementing with a moderate daily dose of vitamin D significantly improved the odds that chemotherapy will completely eliminate breast cancer tumors before surgery.
The trial enrolled 80 women aged 45 and older diagnosed with breast cancer who were about to start neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT), a type of chemo given before surgery to shrink tumors. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily or a placebo for six months, during their chemotherapy treatment.