New Research Highlights Potential Role of Vitamin D in Regulating Uterine Fibroid Growth

Vitamin D supplementation may help slow the growth of uterine fibroids and potentially reduce their size, according to a review of existing scientific evidence. Researchers suggest that correcting vitamin D deficiency could offer a promising non-hormonal approach to managing these common benign tumours, although larger clinical trials are needed.

The systematic review, published in Cureus, examined laboratory studies, animal experiments, observational research and human clinical trials investigating the relationship between vitamin D levels and uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. Although many women experience no symptoms, fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, anaemia and fertility-related complications.

The review found that women with uterine fibroids frequently had lower vitamin D levels than women without the condition.

One observational study reported a 32% lower risk of uterine fibroids among women with adequate vitamin D levels compared with those with deficiency.

Laboratory experiments suggested that vitamin D may suppress fibroid cell growth, reduce DNA damage and influence hormonal pathways involved in tumour development.

Animal studies also demonstrated reductions in fibroid growth and volume following vitamin D treatment. Importantly, several small clinical trials reported encouraging findings.

In one study involving 69 women with vitamin D deficiency and uterine fibroids, supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in fibroid volume compared with placebo.

Another trial found that although vitamin D did not significantly shrink existing fibroids, it appeared to prevent further growth.

A separate observational study involving 20 women reported fibroid growth of 5.8% in the vitamin D-treated group compared with 17.3% among untreated participants.

However, researchers emphasised that existing studies were relatively small and differed in treatment doses, duration and assessment methods.

The findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation may offer a potential additional treatment option for women with uterine fibroids, particularly those with deficiency, but its effectiveness as a routine fibroid therapy remains unproven.

REFERENCE: Awad N E (August 11, 2026) Influence of Vitamin D on the Growth and Development of Uterine Fibroids. Cureus 18(8): e114365. doi:10.7759/cureus.114365