Monthly Archives: November 2009

Study linking Vitamin D levels and cancer prevention

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A study in the Annals of Epidemiology linking vitamin D and Cancer Prevention.

It is projected that raising the minimum year- round serum 25(OH)D level to 40 to 60 ng/mL (100–150 nmol/L) would prevent approximately 58,000 new cases of breast cancer and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year, and three fourths of deaths from these diseases in the United States and Canada, based on observational studies combined with a randomized trial. Such intakes also are expected to reduce case-fatality rates of patients who have breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer by half. There are no unreasonable risks from intake of 2000 IU per day of vitamin D3, or from a population serum 25(OH)D level of 40 to 60 ng/mL. The time has arrived for nationally coordinated action to substantially increaseintake of vitamin D and calcium.

Insufficient levels of vitamin D increase risk of dying from heart disease

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Its not just cholesterol any more….  New study connects vitamin D levels to risk of dying from heart disease (link). And if you think the 400-600 IU of vitamin D in your multiple vitamin is going to give you optimum levels of vitamin D in your blood, think again! Government health agencies are now admitting that the recommended levels of vitamin D intake for all ages are woefully inadequate, but they still recommend levels (such as 1,000 IU) that are far too low. Start at 2,000 IU per day, unless you’re a sun worshipper and you live in the land of eternal summer. After 3-4 months, ask your doctor for a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level test—it’s probably a more important number to know than your cholesterol level. If that number is less than 50 ng/ml (be sure its ng/ml and not nmol/L units—if the latter, you have to divide it by 2.5 to get ng/ml). Many people require 4,000 to 6,000 IU of vitamin D—especially older, heavier, or more dark skinned people—some may need even more. The blood level will tell you if you’re getting enough—don’t wait for government regulations to do so—they’re 10 years behind the science.

Insufficient levels of vitamin D puts elderly at increased risk of dying from heart disease

A new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) shows vitamin D plays a vital role in reducing the risk of death associated with older age. The research, just published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, evaluated the association between vitamin D levels in the blood and the death rates of those 65 and older. The study found that older adults with insufficient levels of vitamin D die from heart disease at greater rates that those with adequate levels of the vitamin.

Read more about the University of Colorado study at ScienceDaily.com.

Vitamin D may be the MOST important vitamin

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Evidence that vitamin D may be the MOST important vitamin continues to mount. Although epidemiological studies such as this one (link) don’t prove cause and effect, the sheer number of such associations are suggesting that one of the most important things you can do for your health is make sure that you have a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level in the neighborhood of 50 ng/ml.

A new study in the Journal of Nutrition research showed:

Higher vitamin D levels associated with increased survival among older women over a 6 year period

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteoporosis, poor muscle strength, falls, and fractures. The relationship between serum vitamin D concentrations and mortality in older community-dwelling women has not been well characterized. We hypothesized that women with lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations were at higher risk of mortality. We examined the association between serum 25[OH]D concentrations and all-cause mortality in a prospective, population-based study of 714 community-dwelling women, aged 70 to 79 years, the Women’s Health and Aging Studies I and II in Baltimore, Md. The studies were originally designed to evaluate the causes and course of physical disability in older women living in the community. Vital status was determined through follow-up interviews and matching with the National Death Index. During a median of 72 months of follow-up, 100 (14%) of 714 women died. Women in the lowest quartile of 25(OH)D (<15.3 ng/mL or 38.2 nmol/L) were at higher risk of death (hazards ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-5.36; P = .02) compared to women in the highest quartile (>27.0 ng/mL or 67.4 nmol/L) of 25(OH)D in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for demographics, season, and conventional risk factors. Older community-dwelling women with low 25(OH)D levels are at an increased risk of death.