September 7, 2007 — Sherri Tenpenny, DO

A new study suggests the number of cases of colon and breast cancer could be cut dramatically if people got more Vitamin D.  University of California researchers estimate 250,000 cases of colon cancer and 350,000 cases of breast cancer could be prevented worldwide by increasing intake of vitamin D.   Sunlight spurs production of vitamin D in the skin, and people who don’t get much sun exposure tend to have lower levels of the vitamin.  “There’s been a lot of evidence for a long time that vitamin D is very important, not just for bones, which everybody knows, but for all the organs in the body,” said Dr. Larry Norton, an oncologist at New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

COMMENT:  I always have a mixed set of feelings when Conventional Medical  “confirms” what I’ve been saying for many years: Vitamin D will be changed from a vitamin to a hormone due its widespread effect and importance on every organ in the body.  I feel happy for patients who will now follow through with more vitamin D; sad that many could have benefited from larger doses of vitamin D but did not because of an over-blown fear of consuming more than the recommended 400IU per day dose.  

This current article suggested dose of 2,000 IU a day will be helpful. However, is still less than Vitamin D that most people need. A study published in January, 2007 by the Council for Responsible Nutrition documented that at least10,000 IU per day is safe…that is the amount that I recommend to my patients, especially those at highest risk of breast cancer.  By the way, I don’t think it is necessary to get a blood test to “confirm” a low level. Vitamin D is inexpensive and the tests aren’t always accurate. Take the supplement and don’t bother with the blood test.

Suggestions such as high doses of Vitamin D are true prevention.  Correcting an underlying biochemical deficiency using a natural substance is definitely a step in the right direction.

Article Source: http://drsherri.wordpress.com/2007/09/07/vitamin-d-and-breast-health-true-cancer-prevention/