Laboratory studies have shown that vitamin D stops cancer cells from dividing and actually makes the cancer cells die out. Previous research has shown that enough vitamin D and exposure to sunlight has been shown to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Vitamin D is made in several ways. The body produces its own vitamin D in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is also found in certain foods, including eggs and fatty fish.
In mid -March of this year I had my vitamin D level tested and found it was low – 20. Soon after I went to a conference and heard Dr. Michael Holick, one of the world’ s leading vitamin D experts, and began taking 50,000 units of D once per week for 8 weeks and will continue with 50,000 units every other week for the rest of my life once I get my level up to 50.
I live in Phoenix with sunshine most days of the year and eat a healthy diet as well as take a supplement. It seems ridiculous that I could have a low vitamin D level, in fact, a level that is lower than many of my patients with Cystic Fibrosis who are at risk for low vitamin D. The Linus Pauling Institute recommends aiming for a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of at least 32 ng/mL and more recently 50 seems to be the number to aim for.
What I did not know is that almost everyone diagnosed with breast cancer has a low serum vitamin D level. And researchers do not yet know is if the low D level is a cause or a symptom of breast cancer.
Dr. Chistakos, a professor of biochemistry, has researched and published extensively on the multiple roles of vitamin D, including inhibition of the growth of malignant cells found in breast cancer. Her current findings on the vitamin D induced protein that inhibits breast cancer growth are published in a 2009 issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Previous research had determined that increased serum levels of vitamin D are associated with an improved diagnosis in patients with breast cancer.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090204172437.htm
I wonder if a serum vitamin D level should be a regular test for women.
What I did not know is that almost everyone diagnosed with breast cancer has a low serum vitamin D level. And researchers do not yet know is if the low D level is a cause or a symptom of breast cancer.
Dr. Chistakos, a professor of biochemistry, has researched and published extensively on the multiple roles of vitamin D, including inhibition of the growth of malignant cells found in breast cancer. Her current findings on the vitamin D induced protein that inhibits breast cancer growth are published in a 2009 issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Previous research had determined that increased serum levels of vitamin D are associated with an improved diagnosis in patients with breast cancer.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090204172437.htm
I wonder if a serum vitamin D level should be a regular test for women.
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