Optimal Vitamin D protects against cancer | Hope for cancer patients as well as for those at risk

Hope for cancer patients as well as for those at risk

Narinder Duggal, MD, FRCPC

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in America. As research continually expands in the field, there is a growing awareness regarding the protective properties of vitamin D. The active or hormonal form of vitamin D (1, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D) manifests its anti cancer properties through the vitamin D receptor (VDR) which is present in most human tissues.¹ VDR is a nuclear receptor responsible for regulating more than 60 genes resulting in prodifferentiating, antiproliferative (inhibiting abnormal cellular growth) and antimetastatic (reducing the spread of cancer) effects on cells. In other words, Vitamin D penetrates individual cells in your body and helps reduce the risk of cancer by regulating inappropriate cell division. In tissues already affected by cancer, active Vitamin D assists in the reduction of blood vessel formation around tumors inhibiting metastasis.² There is data that indicates vitamin D also enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs.³

Lack of sun exposure and Vitamin D deficiency have been identified as contributing factors in the development of several types of cancers.⁴ In fact, there is an inverse relationship between Vitamin D levels and the risk of cancer.⁵ Some ecological studies have evaluated the applicability of the UVB-Vitamin D-cancer theory and found that cancer diagnosed in summer has a milder clinical course and lower mortality than in winter, possibly due to better vitamin D levels in summer months.⁶

Medical literature is filled with evidence supporting the benefits of vitamin D supplementation. Recent research in 2007 concluded that women who ingested 1400 to 1500 mg/d calcium and 1100 IU/d vitamin D3 for 4 years reduced their risk for developing cancer by > 60%.4 The data from a 2008 study consisting of 3299 participants indicated that individuals with higher levels of vitamin D have reduced their risk of dying from cancer by almost 50%.⁷

The Women's Health Initiative Study documented that women who had 25(OH) vitamin D levels less than 12 ng/ml were at a 253% greater risk of developing colorectal cancer during the 8 years of the study compared with women who were vitamin D sufficient at the beginning of the study.⁴Colorectal cancer is the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the United States according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.⁸ Dr. M. Hollick, well known for his research on vitamin D reported that colon cancer is reduced by 30-50% when vitamin D intake is increased.⁹ Similar results were found in patients with colorectal cancer in western-European countries.¹⁰

In 2009, Garland and Grant reported that raising the minimum year-around serum 25(OH)D level to 40 to 60 ng/mL (100-150 nmol/L) would prevent approximately 58,000 new cases of breast cancer, 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year and 75 percent of deaths from these diseases in the United States and Canada.^6,11

Comprehensive analysis of data revealed that skin cancer patients are at low risk of developing colorectal and breast cancer, possibly due to sun induced high levels of vitamin D. However the risk of skin cancer associated with extended sun exposures is so great that the Canadian Cancer Society said it would prefer to advocate vitamin D supplements if individuals were not getting enough Vitamin D than change its recommendations on exposure to the sun.

Should you take Vitamin D supplements to decrease your risk of cancer? Participating in your own health care has benefits. Stay informed on current research and talk with your doctor about vitamin D. Coordinate with your healthcare provider and request a vitamin D level test. Ask if vitamin D10 supplementation from Synergy Therapeutics RX is right for you to assist in the prevention or treatment of cancer.

References:

1.   Ali MM, Vaidya V. Vitamin D and cancer. J Cancer Res Ther 2007;3(4):225-30. (PUBMED Abstract)
2.   http://chetday.com/cancerdvitamin.htm. (Open link)
3.   Ravid A, Rocker D, Machlenkin A, et al. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 enhances the susceptibility of breast cancer cells to doxorubicin-induced oxidative damage. Cancer Res 1999;59(4):862-7. (PUBMED Link)
4.   Holick MF. Vitamin D and sunlight: strategies for cancer prevention and other health benefits. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2008;3(5):1548-54. (PUBMED Abstract)
5.   Tuohimaa P, Keisala T, Minasyan A, et al. Vitamin D, nervous system and aging. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009;34 Suppl 1:S278-86. (PUBMED Abstract)
6.   Grant WB, Mohr SB. Ecological studies of ultraviolet B, vitamin D and cancer since 2000. Ann Epidemiol 2009;19(7):446-54. (PUBMED Abstract)
7.   Pilz S, Dobnig H, Winklhofer-Roob B, et al. Low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D predict fatal cancer in patients referred to coronary angiography. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(5):1228-33. (PUBMED Abstract)
8.   http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/. (Open link)
9.   http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v04n11.shtml. (Open link)
10.   Jenab M, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Ferrari P, et al. Association between pre-diagnostic circulating vitamin D concentration and risk of colorectal cancer in European populations:a nested case-control study. Bmj;340:b5500. (PUBMED Abstract)
11.   Garland CF, Gorham ED, Mohr SB, Garland FC. Vitamin D for cancer prevention: global perspective. Ann Epidemiol 2009;19(7):468-83. (PUBMED Abstract)