Vitamin D has now been known to help prevent most kinds of cancer.
Those at risk of getting cancer should take a closer look at taking
vitamin D.
Vitamin D - A Closer Look At Cancer
Prevention
by Harry Monell
Vitamin D is the nutrient long known for
it's critical role in the body's processing of calcium and subsequent
maintenance of the bones and teeth. However, studies are revealing more
and more evidence supporting the role of vitamin D in protecting the
body by significantly cutting the risk for most forms of cancer. In
fact, new research published most recently in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition suggests that vitamin D supplements may lower the
risk factor by as much as 77 percent.
The following reveal exciting evidence of
the exceptionally strong cancer-protective effects of vitamin D. Breast
Cancer - most recently the results of a study were published in the
Archives of Internal Medicine suggesting that pre-menopausal women who
maintain high levels of vitamin D and calcium in their diets have a
significantly lower risk of breast cancer. More importantly, high
levels of calcium and vitamin D among this group seemed to reduce the
most aggressive breast tumors, including those that are likely to
spread to the lymph nodes, which contain the most dangerous types of
cancer cells. The two nutrients function together to block or interfere
with the effects of the IGF (insulin-like growth factor) hormone, which
is known to stimulate breast and other cancer cells.
Colon/Rectal Cancer - More than fifty years
ago, while realizing the correlation between sunlight and vitamin D
blood concentrations, curious scientists began studying weather data
around the country, along with health statistics anticipating a
relationship between areas with the highest amount of sunshine and
lower rates of colon cancer death. New research conducted at the
Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska has revealed that
supplementing with vitamin D and calcium can reduce your risk of colon
cancer by nearly 80 percent.
Pancreatic Cancer - known for having one of
the highest mortality rates, pancreatic cancer is frequently called the
"silent killer" typically because its presence is seldom diagnosed
prior to reaching the advanced stages generally considered incurable.
Results of two studies that began over thirty years ago, with a
combined 170,000 male and female participants revealed evidence that at
higher intake levels of vitamin D (at least 600 IU per day) there was a
significant reduction in the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Prostate Cancer - Prostate cancer is the
second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States.
However, an abundance of clinical research is providing evidence that
vitamin D may be a key factor in reducing or eliminating the risk of
contracting the disease. Most recent results include a new study
indicating that vitamin D generated from about 15 minutes of sunshine
per day may help lower the risk of prostate cancer. Other
epidemiological studies also show correlations between the risk factors
for prostate cancer and conditions that can result in decreased vitamin
D levels. And, additional clinical research has shown that the presence
of vitamin D inhibits the growth of human prostate cancer cells.
Lung Cancer - is the leading cause of cancer
related deaths in America, so it is with great promise that a study
published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &
Prevention revealed that Vitamin D from a combination of dietary
sources and sun exposure appears to improve the survival of patients
with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for
75% to 80% of all lung cancers. It's interesting to note that group
participants who had surgery during the summer months gained a 13%
survival advantage over those receiving surgery during the winter.
Recent research indicates that anyone
totally avoiding the sun will need an intake of about 4,000 IUs of
vitamin D a day! Now, if you do the math this means that it will be
impossible from a practical means, to get enough vitamin D from either
natural foods or nutritional supplements. Consider the requirement of
40 glasses of milk or 10 multi-vitamin tablets a day. Such an
alternative would be an unrealistic and physically dangerous
undertaking, to say the least.
Most of us make about 20,000 units of
vitamin D after about 20 minutes of summer sun, but if for some reason
you're not getting vitamin D from sunshine, you need to take
supplemental vitamin D3 cholecalciferol. Since most of us do in fact
receive much more vitamin D from the sun than we actually realize, it's
reasonable to assume then that the majority of us need to supplement
our intake with an additional 2,000 IUs per day, to ensure the risk
reduction benefits against all cancer related illness.
For additional information and important
resources, please visit The Healing Power Of Vitamins And Nutrients
Copyright 2007 Harry Monell. All rights
reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article
with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact
with all links unchanged, including this notice.
About the Author
Harry Monell is writing articles and
maintaining New Day Nutrients.com, a website dedicated to promoting
better health and vitality by providing useful information, advice and
the latest news covering a wide range of health and nutritional topics.
For additional information and resources, please visit The Healing
Power Of Vitamins And Nutrients
If
you are concerned about a healthy alternative way to prevent cancer, be
sure and take Vitamin D. It is essential especially for those who are
at risk of getting cancer.
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