Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is produced in the skin when you are exposed to sunlight. It can also be found in foods like fish, egg yolks and fortified diary products as well as a supplement. Although it is available as an over-the-counter supplement in the form of D-2 and D-3, vitamin D-3 is most popular and commonly recommended by doctors because is more active, and therefore more effective in the human body. If you consider taking vitamin D-3 for cancer, talk to your doctor.
May Reduce Cancer Risk
A four-year study published in the June 2007 issue of "Medical News Today" followed more than 1,000 women older than 55 years of age. During that time, subjects who took vitamin D-3 and calcium demonstrated a 60-percent reduced risk of developing cancer compared with the placebo group. The scientists additionally found that during the final three years of the research, that supplementation yielded a 77-percent reduction of cancer risk compared with the placebo group. It is important to note that the dosage was three times the recommended daily requirement. Consult a physician before increasing your dose of any vitamin.
National Institutes of Health on Vitamin D
According to the National Institutes of Health, a significant number of studies suggest that vitamin D plays an important role in the prevention and management of various forms of cancer, such as colon, breast and prostate cancers; other studies showed mixed results. Therefore, NIH takes the position that further research is warranted to evaluate whether vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of cancer and whether increasing vitamin D-3 levels protects against cancer.
Dosage
A blood test should evaluate whether you have vitamin D deficiency. Based on the results, your doctor will recommend your optimal dosage of this nutrient. For overall health, the National Institutes of Health recommends between 600 and 800 IU of either type of vitamin D for adults. To prevent the risk of developing cancer, researchers from the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine suggest doses between 4,000 and 10,000 IU daily of either type of vitamin D.
Considerations
Consult a qualified health care practitioner to find out about your requirements for vitamin D-3. Keep in mind that this supplement does not replace and should not be used to replace conventional therapy prescribed for cancer.
Member Comments