Here are the top health news for the day:
Vitamin D Slashes Colorectal Cancer Risk by 58%: Study Finds
A recent study published in the journal Nutrients has revealed that adequate intake of vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer by up to 58%. This significant finding adds to growing evidence suggesting that vitamin D, known primarily for its role in bone health and immune function, also plays a crucial role in cancer prevention.
Colorectal cancer, which includes both colon and rectal cancer, remains one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. Researchers have increasingly turned their attention to nutritional factors in cancer prevention, with vitamin D emerging as a leading candidate due to its widespread effects on immunity and inflammation.
In the Nutrients study, scientists analyzed data from 50 studies involving individuals with colorectal cancer, those deficient in vitamin D, and those taking supplements. The analysis found a clear link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Researchers found that those with the highest dietary intake of vitamin D (80 ng/mL) had a 25% decrease in colorectal cancer risk compared to those with the lowest amount (10 ng/mL). The findings are consistent with previous large-scale studies.
Reference: Fekete, M., Lehoczki, A., Szappanos, Á., Zábó, V., Kaposvári, C., Horváth, A., Farkas, Á., Fazekas-Pongor, V., Major, D., Lipécz, Á., Csípő, T., & Varga, J. T. (2025). Vitamin D and Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Immunological Mechanisms, Inflammatory Pathways, and Nutritional Implications. Nutrients, 17(8), 1351. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081351
Can Managing Emotions Reduce Chronic Pain?
A new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open has shown that enhancing one's ability to manage emotions can significantly reduce chronic pain and improve mental health. The six-month trial, led by researchers from the University of New South Wales and Neuroscience Research Australia, found that behaviour therapy targeting emotional regulation led to sustained pain relief and reduced depression symptoms.
Chronic pain, defined as persistent pain lasting more than three months after an injury has healed, affects roughly one-third of the global population.
In the trial, 90 participants with chronic pain engaged in eight online group therapy sessions designed to help them manage their emotions more effectively. The therapy focused on reducing negative emotions like anger and anxiety while enhancing positive feelings. Participants also used a handbook and a mobile app for self-guided learning.
The researchers found those who received the therapy reported significant improvements in emotion regulation, which corresponded with reduced pain intensity and better mental health outcomes. Notably, the study found a sustained reduction in depression symptoms and a clinically meaningful drop in reported pain levels over six months.
Lead author Sylvia Gustin, a psychologist and director of the NeuroRecovery Research Hub at UNSW, explained that the brain’s emotional circuitry is disrupted by chronic pain, often leading to poor emotional regulation. “By changing how we manage emotions, it is possible to change the experience of pain itself” she said. “This is not just a temporary relief but a potential long-term improvement in quality of life for those affected by chronic pain.”
The study underscores the importance of addressing emotional health as a core part of chronic pain treatment. With up to 40% of chronic pain sufferers also experiencing anxiety or depression, integrating emotional regulation therapy could mark a transformative step in pain management.
Reference: Norman-Nott N, Briggs NE, Hesam-Shariati N, et al. Online Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Emotion Dysregulation in People With Chronic Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e256908. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.6908
Study Shows How Shingles Vaccine May Also Protect Your Heart
People who are given a vaccine for shingles have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease, according to a study of more than a million people published in the European Heart Journal.
The protective effect of the vaccine lasts for up to eight years and is particularly pronounced for men, people under the age of 60 and those with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and being inactive.
The study included 1,271,922 people aged 50 or older living in South Korea. Researchers gathered data, from 2012 onwards, on whether people received a shingle vaccine and combined this with data on their cardiovascular health and data on other factors that can influence health, such as age, sex, wealth and lifestyle.
The vaccine was a live zoster vaccine, meaning it contained a weakened form of the varicella zoster virus that causes shingles. In many countries, this type of vaccine is now being replaced with a non-live, recombinant vaccine, meaning it contains a protein from the varicella zoster virus.
The study showed that among people who received the vaccine, there was a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events overall, with a 26% lower risk of major cardiovascular events (a stroke, heart attack or death from heart disease), a 26% lower risk of heart failure and a 22% lower risk of coronary heart disease.
The protective effect was strongest in the two to three years after the shingles vaccine was given, but researchers found that the protection lasted for up to eight years.
Professor Yon said: "Our study suggests that the shingles vaccine may help lower the risk of heart disease, even in people without known risk factors. This means that vaccination could offer health benefits beyond preventing shingles.
"There are several reasons why the shingles vaccine may help reduce heart disease. A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation and clot formation that can lead to heart disease. By preventing shingles, vaccination may lower these risks. Our study found stronger benefits in younger people, probably due to a better immune response, and in men, possibly due to differences in vaccine effectiveness.
Reference: https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/shingles-vaccine-lowers-the-risk-of-heart-disease-for-up-to-eight-years
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