Vitamin D Key To Fighting Breast Cancer: Study
Posted May 16, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Virginia Yule (pictured) has been cancer-free for almost nine years.
“And I’m counting!” she laughs.
Yule was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999.
“I think any traumatic disease makes one pause for thought,” she explains. Her diagnosis made her take a careful look at her diet and lifestyle.
“I ate a lot on the fly. I wasn’t as careful about the amount of vegetables, greens, fruits and things that I ate,” Yule admits.
Her doctor also recommended a supplement that’s been making a lot of headlines recently.
“All that she was reading about Vitamin D pointed to the benefits,” so Yule started on the treatment.
And a new study shows, her doctor may have been right. The research out of Mt. Sinai Hospital indicates a strong link between Vitamin D deficiency and breast cancer.
But be careful, the research warns: too much of the supplement is just as bad as not enough.
Dr. Pamela Goodwin is the senior investigator responsible for the study. She and her team looked at 512 Toronto women with early stage breast cancer and their Vitamin D levels. Many of the women – 40 per cent – had insufficient levels of the “sunshine” vitamin, associated with higher grade breast cancer tumours.
It also indicated an increased risk of recurrence and lower overall survival rates.
“We may actually have identified a new treatment for women with breast cancer. We’re not there yet, but that may be the long-term impact,” Dr. Goodwin beams.
But, the study also warns of too much of a good thing: very high levels of Vitamin D may increase the risk of death from breast cancer.
So how much should you be getting? The US Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences recommends 5 micrograms, or 200 IU, for all individuals. That includes men, women, pregnant and lactating women; under the age of 50.
For those 50-70 years old, 10 micrograms are recommended. People 70 and over should aim for 15 micrograms a day.
Your skin makes Vitamin D from sun exposure. It helps to regulate cell growth and differentiation, offsetting cancer cell aggressiveness.
If you’re looking for a breast cancer support group, check out the resources available at Willow.org.
Email support@willow.org or call us toll free at 1.888.778.3100
You can also find a support group through Wellspring.
Other Links:
Signs and Symptons of Breast Cancer
Tips On Getting Vitamin D For Cancer Prevention
