By: Erin Coakley for Fibroids1A recent study indicates there may be new hope for women suffering from breast cancer – in the form of Vitamin D. In the spotlight more and more recently, this vitamin is thought to be promising in the fight against other cancers as well.
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How to Get Enough Vitamin D:
Foods that contain high levels of Vitamin D include salmon, tuna, herring, sardines, and other oily fish. It is also found in milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, and fortified margarine and cereal.
To get the required amount of Vitamin D, drink four glasses of milk per day, or eat dairy products with a comparable amount of the vitamin.
Sunlight is the best natural source of Vitamin D. Go outside in the sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times a week.
Vitamin D can be obtained from multivitamin supplements, especially cod liver oil. It is recommended that you get 1,000 International Units of Vitamin D each day in order for it to effectively fight cancer. Don’t exceed 2,000 IUs, as too much Vitamin D can lead to a dangerous build up of calcium. |
A study published late last year in the Journal of Clinical Pathology linked low levels of Vitamin D with the progression of breast cancer to its advanced stage. Researchers measured levels of Vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and calcium in a group of 279 women diagnosed with breast cancer. Levels of both Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone were significantly higher in the 204 women in the early stage of the disease than in the 75 women in the advanced stage, although no difference was observed in the level of calcium. Because this was an observational study, it is not known whether the low levels of Vitamin D were a cause or consequence of advanced breast cancer.
Although it is possible that breast cancer causes a decrease in vitamin levels rather than the other way around, this study – along with numerous other studies – seems to suggest that Vitamin D plays a vital role in protecting against cancer. It was previously found that Vitamin D leads to an increase of activity in certain genes and an inhibition of others. One gene that Vitamin D boosts is p21, which plays an important role in regulating the production of cells, a control that is missing in cancer.
In laboratory studies, Vitamin D has been shown to stop cancer cells from dividing as well as to increase the speed of their death. Several other studies have looked at the relationship between Vitamin D levels and rates of breast cancer. One study found that high levels of Vitamin D led to a 50 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer, while just moderately higher levels resulted in a 10 percent lower risk. A second study showed that women who spent a lot of time outdoors in the sunlight or got plenty of Vitamin D in their diets or from supplements, were 25 to 45 percent less likely to develop breast cancer compared to women with lower intake of the vitamin.
More research is necessary to further understand the causes underlying Vitamin D levels and breast cancer. However, researchers believe it is clear that low levels of Vitamin D may promote the progression of this disease. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans are Vitamin D-deficient. By eating foods such as eggs, fatty fish, diary products or by taking Vitamin D supplements like cod liver oil, you can increase your intake. Another easy way is by getting enough sunlight on a regular basis. When exposed to the sun, the skin produces its own Vitamin D. About 15 minutes of daily sunlight is generally recommended. Be sure to wear sunscreen if you’ll be outside for longer. Maintaining a high level of Vitamin D in the body may be one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to protect yourself from breast cancer.
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