Vitamin D decreases cancer risk; just don't take the supplement itself

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Vitamin D decreases cancer risk; just don't take the supplement itself

Posted Jun 11th 2007 9:21AM by Brian White
Filed under: All Cancers, Vitamins and nutrients

As Jacki pointed out here, it appears that vitamin D consumption can lead to a lowered risk of breast cancer development, as a new study has found that vitamin D does indeed help lower the risk of cancer (beyond just breast cancer).

What intrigued me about this research is that vitamin D supplements are not being discussed as part of a prevention program. I've always been of the mind that high levels of isolated nutrients may not be good for the human body at all (or be completely ineffective), and the attention to not using vitamin D supplements in the wake of this news confirm this line of thinking.

In general, the working together of several vitamins and minerals at the same time in the body generally gives the best and more preventative results. In the case of vitamin D, a little walk in the sun each day can help your body form its own -- and it's free.

Tags: Vitamin d, Vitamin D cancer risks, VitaminD, VitaminDCancerRisks

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. Surprisingly, we have been seeing low vitamin D levels even here in sunny Florida demonstrated by serum 25-OH Vit D blood testing. People are avoiding the sun.

More information on Vitamin D at my newsletter:

http://jeffreydach.com/2007/06/10/vitamin-d-deficiency--by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx

regards from Jeffrey Dach MD
http://www.drdach.com/

Posted at 10:13AM on Jun 11th 2007 by Jeffrey Dach

2. For those adverse to taking supplements, this is a great reminder. It has been estimated that 24,000 people die in the U.S. each year due to lack of sun exposure (presumably secondary to lack of vitamin D). This is more than twice the number that die from skin cancer. Despite the sunscreen industries apparent recommendation that we should avoid the sun and never venture out without sunscreen, taking a ten to fifteen minute walk in the sun, without sunscreen, preferably before 11 AM or after 4 PM can result in the absorption of the vitamin D levels suggested in recent studies on vitamin D and cancer prevention.

I do understand that this is not always possible in northern climates, or in individuals who are unable to get outside or have other conditions that contribute to low vitamin D levels. In those situations it is important for individuals to discuss with their physician the option of a supplement.

Lynne Eldridge M.D.
Author, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time"
http://www.avoidcancernow.com

Posted at 11:49AM on Jun 11th 2007 by Lynne Eldridge M.D.

3. If you're looking to supplement your vitamin D intake for reasons aforementioned such as lack of sunlight, then click on your.mitamins.info for all you needs. You can also customize your own supplements to avoid interactions with other medicines you're using. Check it out.

Posted at 6:03AM on Jun 15th 2007 by Mitamins

4. Risk Assessment for Vitamin D http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/85/1/6 concludes "the absence of toxicity in trials conducted in healthy adults that used vitamin D dose 250 µg/d (10 000 IU vitamin D3) supports the confident selection of this value as the Upper Limit.
The urgent need to recommend an intake of vitamin D that is effective http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/85/3/649 show current "OFFICIAL" advice from physicians regarding Vitamin D3 intake & risk bears little or no relation to recent research.
There is no risk, minimal cost and the potential for great gain when it comes to acquiring sufficient Vitamin D3 to obtain Optimal nutritional vitamin D status.
Circulating Vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Humans:http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=17218096
For every individual death from excessive sun induced skin cancer death 30 people die from those cancers that thrive in Vitamin d insufficient status bodies.

Posted at 8:10AM on Jun 22nd 2007 by Edward Hutchinson

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