QUOTE
February 12, 2007 — Researchers say that raising vitamin D levels may prevent up to half of all breast and two thirds of colorectal cancer cases in the United States. Based on the results of 2 separate studies, the investigators recommend a daily intake of 2000 IU of vitamin D3 and, when possible, moderate sun exposure.
"The results are pretty straightforward," Karen Glanz, PhD, director of Emory University's Prevention Research Center at the Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, Georgia, said in a news release. However, changing behavior on the basis of these studies may be premature, she noted. The analyses found an association between vitamin D levels and lowered risk, not a definite link, Dr. Glanz said, but adding vitamin D to the diet or taking a supplement would probably not do much harm and there could be a benefit.
During an interview with Medscape, lead author Cedric Garland, DrPH, of the University of California at San Diego, agreed that future consensus is needed, but he recommended no delay in raising vitamin D levels. "We shouldn't hold up implementation," he said. "Inadequate photosynthesis or oral intake of vitamin D is associated with high incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer."
Published in the January 30 Article in Press issue of the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the researchers pooled dose-response data from 2 previous studies — the Harvard Nurses Health Study and the St. George's Hospital Study. They found that patients with the highest blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D had the lowest risk for breast cancer.
Dr. Garland and his team divided the more than 1700 records in the studies into 5 groups from the lowest blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (< 13 ng/mL) to the highest (approximately 52 ng/mL). These data also included whether the patient had developed cancer.
The investigators found that patients with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D of approximately 52 ng/mL had a 50% lower risk for breast cancer than those with serum measuring less than 13 ng/mL. This level corresponds to a vitamin D intake of 4000 IU per day, which exceeds the National Academy of Sciences upper limit of 2000 IU per day. "Leading researchers are building a case to have this level increased," Dr. Garland told Medscape, "but in the meantime, we are recommending a daily intake of 2000 IU."
The group is also calling for an additional 10 to 15 minutes of daily sun exposure when appropriate — an amount estimated to be equivalent to an oral intake of 3000 IU of vitamin D3.
"The results are pretty straightforward," Karen Glanz, PhD, director of Emory University's Prevention Research Center at the Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, Georgia, said in a news release. However, changing behavior on the basis of these studies may be premature, she noted. The analyses found an association between vitamin D levels and lowered risk, not a definite link, Dr. Glanz said, but adding vitamin D to the diet or taking a supplement would probably not do much harm and there could be a benefit.
During an interview with Medscape, lead author Cedric Garland, DrPH, of the University of California at San Diego, agreed that future consensus is needed, but he recommended no delay in raising vitamin D levels. "We shouldn't hold up implementation," he said. "Inadequate photosynthesis or oral intake of vitamin D is associated with high incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer."
Published in the January 30 Article in Press issue of the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the researchers pooled dose-response data from 2 previous studies — the Harvard Nurses Health Study and the St. George's Hospital Study. They found that patients with the highest blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D had the lowest risk for breast cancer.
Dr. Garland and his team divided the more than 1700 records in the studies into 5 groups from the lowest blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (< 13 ng/mL) to the highest (approximately 52 ng/mL). These data also included whether the patient had developed cancer.
The investigators found that patients with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D of approximately 52 ng/mL had a 50% lower risk for breast cancer than those with serum measuring less than 13 ng/mL. This level corresponds to a vitamin D intake of 4000 IU per day, which exceeds the National Academy of Sciences upper limit of 2000 IU per day. "Leading researchers are building a case to have this level increased," Dr. Garland told Medscape, "but in the meantime, we are recommending a daily intake of 2000 IU."
The group is also calling for an additional 10 to 15 minutes of daily sun exposure when appropriate — an amount estimated to be equivalent to an oral intake of 3000 IU of vitamin D3.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/552033?src=mp
Thank God Spring is on the way!!!
