Vitamin D, Cancer and Kids
Each week I comb the research newsletters, journals, press embargoed stories etc for new reports I think might interest you, and it seems each week there's another one (or two or three) on vitamin D. Seems like I've written about this little vitamin a million times, but the research just keeps coming.
One study, recently published in the June 15 issue of the International Journal of Cancer found that the active form of vitamin D acts on a gene which increases the activity of an important antioxidant enzyme (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). The researchers exposed prostate cells to the active form of vitamin D (D3) which triggered enzyme activity that virtually mopped up free radicals in the prostate cells, protecting them against injury and death.
The researchers believe that this potent antioxidant activity may be part of the reason vitamin D has anti-cancer activity.
In a related story, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that patients with colon cancer who had the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood were less likely to die than those with the lowest levels. The researchers looked at data from two huge studies- the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study- and found 304 patients who had been given a diagnosis of colorectal cancer between 1991-2002.
As it turned out, these patients had provided blood samples early on in the studies, which began back in the 1970's. Their vitamin D levels had actually been checked at least a couple of years before their diagnosis of cancer.
The team then followed the study participants till either 2005 or till their death (whichever occurred first). They then looked at the earlier blood tests to see how vitamin D levels correlated with survival.
The results were pretty amazing. Patients with the highest levels of vitamin D were- get this- 48% less likely to die from any cause (including colon cancer) than the patients with the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood. From colon cancer alone, patients with the highest blood levels of vitamin D were 39% less likely to die.
According to lead researcher Kimmie Ng, MD, vitamin D may improve survival in colon cancer patients by slowing the growth of tumor cells. It may also be involved in killing cancer cells and inhibiting the growth of blood vessels in tumors.
Finally, a related article came out in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism entitled "Short term and long term safety of weekly high dose vitamin D3 supplementation in school children". The researchers found that supplementation was perfectly safe in children at a dose of 2,000 IUs per day, which is 10 times higher than the current ridiculously low recommendation of 200 IUs per day.
Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended a doubling of the paltry 200 IU recommendation to 400 IUs. The researchers in this study advocate raising it to 2,000 IUs daily for children and adolescents.
I personally take 2000 IUs daily but even 1000 IUs would be a huge improvement over what most people are getting. I'd love to see all of you taking this vitamin along with me. It's one of the cheapest vitamins, it's tiny and easy to swallow, and the evidence of its multiple benefits just keeps accumulating. All the vitamin D supplements on our website are the high quality bioavailable D3 form (used in the studies) and even at 2000IUs per day it's only about $2 per month. At 1000 IUs, it's about $1.65 per month. Why not add it to your vitamin order today?
One study, recently published in the June 15 issue of the International Journal of Cancer found that the active form of vitamin D acts on a gene which increases the activity of an important antioxidant enzyme (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). The researchers exposed prostate cells to the active form of vitamin D (D3) which triggered enzyme activity that virtually mopped up free radicals in the prostate cells, protecting them against injury and death.
The researchers believe that this potent antioxidant activity may be part of the reason vitamin D has anti-cancer activity.
In a related story, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that patients with colon cancer who had the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood were less likely to die than those with the lowest levels. The researchers looked at data from two huge studies- the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study- and found 304 patients who had been given a diagnosis of colorectal cancer between 1991-2002.
As it turned out, these patients had provided blood samples early on in the studies, which began back in the 1970's. Their vitamin D levels had actually been checked at least a couple of years before their diagnosis of cancer.
The team then followed the study participants till either 2005 or till their death (whichever occurred first). They then looked at the earlier blood tests to see how vitamin D levels correlated with survival.
The results were pretty amazing. Patients with the highest levels of vitamin D were- get this- 48% less likely to die from any cause (including colon cancer) than the patients with the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood. From colon cancer alone, patients with the highest blood levels of vitamin D were 39% less likely to die.
According to lead researcher Kimmie Ng, MD, vitamin D may improve survival in colon cancer patients by slowing the growth of tumor cells. It may also be involved in killing cancer cells and inhibiting the growth of blood vessels in tumors.
Finally, a related article came out in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism entitled "Short term and long term safety of weekly high dose vitamin D3 supplementation in school children". The researchers found that supplementation was perfectly safe in children at a dose of 2,000 IUs per day, which is 10 times higher than the current ridiculously low recommendation of 200 IUs per day.
Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended a doubling of the paltry 200 IU recommendation to 400 IUs. The researchers in this study advocate raising it to 2,000 IUs daily for children and adolescents.
I personally take 2000 IUs daily but even 1000 IUs would be a huge improvement over what most people are getting. I'd love to see all of you taking this vitamin along with me. It's one of the cheapest vitamins, it's tiny and easy to swallow, and the evidence of its multiple benefits just keeps accumulating. All the vitamin D supplements on our website are the high quality bioavailable D3 form (used in the studies) and even at 2000IUs per day it's only about $2 per month. At 1000 IUs, it's about $1.65 per month. Why not add it to your vitamin order today?
Jonny Bowden, PhD, C.N.S. is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition and health and is the author of several best-selling books.
I read somewhere that you need sunlight to "activate" vitamin D for the body to use it properly. Is this true?
Great articles and always interesting!
I swear by Vitamin D! I have worn heavy sunscreen for many years whenever I go out in the sun, and in addition I have worked mostly at night for several years. Consequently, I get very little UV radiation. I would often find myself unaccountably feeling depressed and I was putting on weight, amongst other things. An earlier article by you mentioned Vitamin D and it's important benefits. Encouraged by what you had written I did the research and started taking about 4000 IU of D3 daily some time ago. It made an almost immediate difference for the better in both my struggle with weight gain and my overall sense of well being!
I am living proof of the truth of what you and the researchers say!
Yet another reason to thank you Dr. Bowden!!
thank you! it's so great to hear from someone who has had success like this!
thanks so much for sharing
warmly
jb
Hi A Ludwick
Yes. Sun on the skin starts the process by which vitamin D is activated, or turned into the usable form we want. However that process can be bypassed with supplements- in other words, if you take D3 (activated vitamin D) in supplement form, you don't need the sun to turn it on. But why not do both?
warmly
jb
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