foodconsumer.org: Vitamin D fights pancreatic cancer

Vitamin D fights pancreatic cancer
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admin on 07/18/2009 14:09:00
 
By David Liu
A new study published in the July 21 2009 issue of World Journal of
Gastroenterology says that the most active form of vitamin D may be used to
treat pancreatic cancer.
Chian KC and Chen TC, authors of the study, from the Chang Gung University in
Tainwan, China reported that a recent trial had demonstrated that a vitamin D
analog known as 19-nor-1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(2) effectively inhibits pancreatic
tumor growth in vitro and in vivo via up-regulation of p21 and p27 tumor
suppressor genes.
Probably hundreds of even thousands of vitamin D analogs have been synthesized,
which can help fight cancer, but lead to less side effects than the most active
form of vitamin D called 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3).
Vitamin D has been known to prevent 17 types of malignancies, according to Dr.
John Cannell at vitaminDcouncil.org.
High doses of vitamin D are needed to achieve a therapeutic effect against
cancers.  But high doses of this vitamin may also cause serious symptoms such as
hypercalcernia and hypercalciuria.
It is generally believed that up to 10,000 International Units of vitamin D per
day is safe.  20-minute sun exposure in the summer can result in 10,000 IU
vitamin D. For those who cannot get that much exposure, 5,000 IU of
25-hydroxyvitamin D per day may be taken.
Dr. Cannell says a high serum level of vitamin D ranging from 50–80 ng/mL (or
125–200 nM/L) is needed to help prevent all sorts of cancer.