foodconsumer.org: Breast cancer survivors should take vitamin D - report

Breast cancer survivors should take vitamin D - report
================================================================================
admin on 06/15/2010 00:53:00
 
Researchers state in an article published in the March 2010 issue of the journal
Nutrition that vitamin d should be recommended for breast cancer survivors
because evidence is evident that this vitamin can provide a myriad health
benefits.
For one thing, Hines S. L. and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville,
Florida say there is evidence suggesting that vitamin D plays a role in breast
cancer prevention and survival.
Previous studies have already reported that vitamin D intake is inversely
associated with the risk of breast cancer, high levels of the vitamin improve
survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer and vitamin D insufficiency is found
in up to 75 percent of breast cancer patients.
Laboratory studies, according to the authors, have found that vitamin D affects
up to 200 genes that affect cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis,
terminal differentiation of normal and cancer cells, and macrophase function.
Vitamin D affects the survival outcomes through different vitamin D receptor
polymorphisms.
In addition to the anti-cancer properties, vitamin D may also improve bone
mineral density, life quality and mood in breast cancer survivors.
The authors write "maintaining adequate vitamin D stores is recommended for
breast cancer survivors throughout their lifetime."
Canadian Cancer Society recommends men and women take 1000 IU vitamin D daily to
prevent cancer.
DL