Ovarian Cancer Support Group

Whilst in London I read a book all about vitD and how important it is and how sometimes we don't get enough sun etc.. Vit D comes, primarily, from the sun. I've been researching it on the web and found this piece which I thought you might find interesting and useful.. I have some supplements which I will take when I haven't been out in the sun very much...

'The vitamin D hormone, calcitriol, has been found to induce death of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The anti-cancer activity of vitamin D is thought to result from its role as a nuclear transcription factor that regulates cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis and a wide range of cellular mechanisms central to the development of cancer.[59] These effects may be mediated through vitamin D receptors expressed in cancer cells.[17]

A search of primary and review medical literature published between 1970 and 2007 found an increasing body of research supporting the hypothesis that the active form of vitamin D has significant, protective effects against the development of cancer. Epidemiological studies show an inverse association between sun exposure, serum levels of 25(OH)D, and intakes of vitamin D and risk of developing and/or surviving cancer. In 2005, scientists released a metastudy which demonstrated a beneficial correlation between vitamin D intake and prevention of cancer. Drawing from a meta-analysis of 63 published reports, the authors showed that intake of an additional 1,000 international units (IU) (or 25 micrograms) of vitamin D daily reduced an individual's colon cancer risk by 50%, and breast and ovarian cancer risks by 30%.[60][61][62] A scientific review undertaken by the National Cancer Institute found that vitamin D was beneficial in preventing colorectal cancer, which showed an inverse relationship with blood levels of 80 nmol/L or higher associated with a 72% risk reduction. However, the same study found no link between baseline vitamin D status and overall cancer mortality.[63]

A 2006 study using data on over 4 million cancer patients from 13 different countries showed a marked difference in cancer risk between countries classified as sunny and countries classified as less–sunny for a number of different cancers.[64] Research has also suggested that cancer patients who have surgery or treatment in the summer — and therefore make more endogenous vitamin D — have a better chance of surviving their cancer than those who undergo treatment in the winter when they are exposed to less sunlight.[65] Another 2006 study found that taking the U.S. RDA of vitamin D (400 IU per day) cut the risk of pancreatic cancer by 43% in a sample of more than 120,000 people from two long-term health surveys.[66][67] A randomized intervention study involving 1,200 women, published in June 2007, reports that vitamin D supplementation (1,100 international units (IU)/day) resulted in a 60% reduction in cancer incidence, during a four-year clinical trial, rising to a 77% reduction for cancers diagnosed after the first year (and therefore excluding those cancers more likely to have originated prior to the vitamin D intervention).[68][69] Research has also indicated beneficial effects of high levels of calcitriol on patients with advanced prostate cancer.[70]

Low levels of vitamin D in serum have also been correlated with breast cancer disease progression and bone metastases,[71] and studies suggest that increased intake of vitamin D reduces the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.[72] Polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene have been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.[71] Impairment of the VDR-mediated gene expression is though to alter mammary gland development or function and may predispose cells to malignant transformation. Women with homozygous FOK1 mutations in the VDR gene had an increased risk of breast cancer compared with the women who did not. FOK1 mutation has also been associated with decreasing bone mineral density which in turn may be associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer.[73]'


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Posted on 06/20/09, 12:06 pm