| are two new reports by cancer prevention | | | | "Meta-analysis is an important tool for revealing |
| specialists at Moores Cancer Center, Univsrsity of | | | | trends that may not be apparent in a single |
| California, suggest that vitamin D in new | | | | study," said co-author Sharif B. Mohr, M.P.H. |
| prescriptions may prevent up to one half of all | | | | "Pooling of independent but similar studies |
| cases of breast cancer. | | | | increases precision, and therefore the confidence |
| The study is published online in the current issue | | | | level of the findings." |
| of The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and | | | | The authors recommend further research to |
| Molecular Biology. It pooled data from two earlier | | | | study individuals for the effect of vitamin D from |
| studies by the Harvard Nurses Health Study and | | | | sunlight, diet and supplements on the risk of |
| the St. George’s Hospital Study that | | | | cancer. |
| alleged that people with the highest levels of | | | | The dose-response data on 1,448 people in the |
| 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D, had the lowest | | | | study were put into order by serum 25(OH)D |
| incidences of breast cancer. | | | | level and then divided into five equal groups, from |
| The research was based on 1,760 cases of | | | | the lowest blood levels to the highest. |
| individuals in the two studies and divided them into | | | | Co-author Edward D. Gorham, Ph.D said: "We |
| five equal groups, from the lowest 25(OH)D at | | | | project a two-thirds reduction in incidence with |
| less than 13 nanograms per milliliter, to the highest | | | | serum levels of 46ng/ml, which corresponds to a |
| group with 52 nanograms per milliliter. | | | | daily intake of 2,000 IU of vitamin D3. This would |
| "The data were very clear, showing that | | | | be best achieved with a combination of diet, |
| individuals in the group with the lowest blood levels | | | | supplements and 10 to 15 minutes per day in the |
| had the highest rates of breast cancer, and the | | | | sun." |
| breast cancer rates dropped as the blood levels | | | | Vitamin D3 is available through diet, supplements |
| of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased," said study | | | | and exposure to sunlight, or ultraviolet B (UVB) as |
| co-author Cedric Garland, Dr.P.H. "The serum level | | | | long as the skin does not tan or burn. In a white |
| associated with a 50 percent reduction in risk | | | | woman, it will only take 10 minutes at noontime |
| could be maintained by taking 2,000 international | | | | on a clear day, with 50 per cent skin exposure, to |
| units of vitamin D3 daily plus, when the weather | | | | absorb adequate vitamin D. Darker skin will require |
| permits, spending 10 to 15 minutes a day in the | | | | up to 25 minutes. |
| sun." | | | | It is important to eat a balanced diet. Vitamin D is |
| However, women are warned not to run out and | | | | linked to Calcium absorption, so overdosing on one |
| start supplementing their diet. There may be | | | | will throw out the balance and may result in a |
| other factors that were overlooked in these | | | | depletion of one vitamin. |
| studies. While the reports are valid, and the | | | | The reports continued and measured Vitamin |
| research solid, they only represent 1,760 people | | | | D’s ability to prevent colorectal cancer |
| out of the entire population. | | | | and found similar results. |