| A new look at the way cancer develops suggests | | | | The team who produced this study has been |
| that low vitamin D levels enable the spread of the | | | | investigating the tie between vitamin D and |
| disease. | | | | cancer since the 1990s. Their work has |
| A study by the Moores Cancer Center at the | | | | demonstrated an association between low vitamin |
| University of California San Diego has produced a | | | | D and breast cancer, as well as a link between |
| new model of cancer development. The | | | | increased levels of the vitamin and a lower risk |
| currently-accepted model of cancer development | | | | for a variety of cancers. |
| considers genetic mutations to be the basis of | | | | A 2006 British study of vitamin D and breast |
| cancer, while the new model proposes that a loss | | | | cancer appears to support these findings. |
| of communication between cells is the key event | | | | Researchers from the Imperial College London |
| in the development of cancer and low levels of | | | | tracked levels of the vitamin in 279 women with |
| vitamin D could be at least partially responsible. | | | | invasive breast cancer. Those in the earlier stages |
| The researchers say communication between | | | | of the disease had significantly higher blood levels |
| cells is crucial to healthy cell turnover but low | | | | of the vitamin than did those in the advanced |
| vitamin D and calcium levels can disrupt that | | | | stages and the study concluded that lowered |
| communication, allowing aggressive cancer cells to | | | | levels of vitamin D may promote the progression |
| take over. According to study leader Cedric | | | | of cancer. |
| Garland, DrPH, this cellular disruption is the earliest | | | | The importance of vitamin D in the development |
| stage of many cancers. | | | | of cancer was further confirmed by a 2009 |
| Though as yet there is no definitive scientific | | | | study by Sylvia Chistakos, Ph.D., of the |
| support for the new model of cancer | | | | UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. Her research, |
| development, the authors of the study say that | | | | published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry, |
| maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D could | | | | showed that the active form of vitamin D induces |
| potentially stop the development of cancer at it | | | | the production of a protein that can inhibit the |
| very earliest stages. | | | | growth of breast cancer cells. |