Cancer Prevention with Vitamin D

In July 2009, a group of experts published a paper in the Annals of Epidemiology titled "Vitamin D for Cancer Prevention: a Global Perspective". They report that simple supplementation of our diets by taking Vitamin D3 could substantially lower the rates of colon, breast, ovarian, renal, pancreatic, aggressive prostate and other cancers. By raising our serum levels of Vitamin D3 to 40 to 60 ng/mL, we could prevent approximately 58,000 new cases of breast cancer and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year. That is 25% of breast cancer and 27% of colorectal cancer prevented each year. They go on to state that three fourths of the deaths from these diseases in the US and Canada could be prevented. Do you know anyone at risk for these cancers?

This paper is not unusual in that there are over 3000 research studies published in biomedical journals and 275 epidemiological studies on Vitamin D. Most of these studies show that lower levels of D3 equate to higher levels of Cancer and note that both sun exposure and supplementation appear to be effective in reducing cancer.

The "National Academy of Sciences-Institute of Medicine recommend adequate intake should be revised upward to at least 2000 to 4000 IU/day." "...and there are no consistently established adverse effects of Vitamin D3 intake in the range below 4000 IU/day that would be sufficient to justify a lower adequate intake."

Low levels of D3 also increase the incidence of myocardial infarction, type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and even falls.

Are you getting enough Vitamin D3? Anyone living north of 30 degrees latitude is most likely deficient and all of us here in Oregon are way north! Consider supplementing yourself with at least 2000 IU of Vitamin D3 per day. It is inexpensive and is one of the most important things you can do to help protect your heath.

If you are in doubt and want to be sure, there is a simple test from ZRT Labs using a drop of blood that can tell you what your levels are. If you are interested in the test, just let me know. We provide lab tests at cost to anyone interested. In addition, of course we carry high quality Vitamin D3 that costs less than a cup of coffee per week!