Vitamin D clearly cuts the risk of breast cancer

The results of data from a combination of two studies regarding breast cancer and Vitamin D is very clear; women with the lowest blood levels of active Vitamin D had the highest rates of breast cancer, and the breast cancer rates dropped as Vitamin D levels increased. The analysis included 1760 individuals and those with the highest blood levels of active Vitamin D had a 50% drop in the risk of developing breast cancer. The study is published on line ahead of print in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Vitamin D improves survival in patients with earlier stage non-small-cell lung cancer

In this study Scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health in conjunction with other institutions including the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital carefully collated information on 447 patients with early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Vitamin D levels. It was found that there was a 26% decreased risk of dying in the patients with the highest vs. the lowest blood levels of active Vitamin D. For patients with NSCLC stages IB through IIB having the highest blood levels of active Vitamin D decreased the risk of dying by 55%. It was also found that patients with higher blood levels of active vitamin D along with a higher Vitamin D intake also improved survival. The study is published in the February 10th, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Large analysis of studies shows that Vitamin D greatly lowers the incidence of colon cancer

Taking or achieving an intake of 2,000 IU of Vitamin D every day may safely decrease a persons? risk of developing colon cancer. In this meta-analysis which pooled the results of 5 studies, scientists from the Naval Health Research center in San Diego found that the incidence of cancers of the colon and rectum decreased by 55% with the highest levels of active Vitamin D in the blood (over 34 ng/ml of 25(OH) D3) versus the lowest levels. If the level of active Vitamin D was raised to over 46 ng/ml the researchers predict a two-thirds drop in incidence; this corresponds to an approximate daily intake of 2,000 IU Vitamin D3. The study is published in the March 2007 issue of the American journal of Preventive Medicine.