Vitamin D and Fighting Cancer

We all want to find healthy ways to fight the potential of cancer. But what if one venue of fighting cancer is also potentially a venue that causes cancer? What does this mean? We are talking about Vitamin D.

Studies have shown that the intake of Vitamin D3 controls cellular growth, which helps you absorb calcium from your digestive tract and at the same time, inhibits the growth of cancer cells. In order for Vitamin D to be activated, the body must be exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. With doctors telling us to stay out of the sun or to wear sunscreen due to skin cancer, our bodies are not getting the appropriate amount of sunlight to boost our Vitamin D levels. So what do we do?

According to Dr. Richard Hobday, author of The Healing Sun, he says, "our fear of the sun does more harm than good. Most recommended daily sunscreens block ultraviolet B rays, the same rays that trigger the production of vitamin D. The number of people who die from breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis -- all maladies that sunlight could benefit -- is far greater than the number of deaths from skin cancer."

After reviewing 50 years of medical literature on cancer, Dr. Gordon Ainsleigh concluded that the benefits of regular sun exposure outweigh the risks of squamous-basal skin cancer, accelerated ageing and melanoma.

So, if you are going to take the risks of being in the sun more often, you might ask yourself what all of the benefits of Vitamin D are?

When vitamin D is produced in the skin or consumed in food, it requires chemical conversion in the liver and kidney to form dihydroxyvitamin D, the physiologically active form of vitamin D. Active vitamin D functions as a hormone because it sends a message to the intestines to increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.

The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. By promoting calcium absorption, vitamin D helps to form and maintain strong bones. Vitamin D also works in concert with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones to promote bone mineralization. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, two forms of skeletal diseases that weaken bones.

Research also suggests that vitamin D may help maintain a healthy immune system and help regulate cell growth and differentiation, the process that determines what a cell is to become.
Knowing how many benefits Vitamin D provides, you might ask yourself, are you getting enough of the Vitamin and are you getting enough sunlight.

According to studies, season, geographic latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, and sunscreen affect UV ray exposure and vitamin D synthesis. For example, sunlight exposure from November through February in Boston is insufficient to produce significant vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Complete cloud cover halves the energy of UV rays, and shade reduces it by 60%. Industrial pollution, which increases shade, also decreases sun exposure and may contribute to the development of rickets in individuals with insufficient dietary intake of vitamin D .

Sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 8 or greater will block UV rays that produce vitamin D, but it is still important to routinely use sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer and other negative consequences of excessive sun exposure. An initial exposure to sunlight (10 -15 minutes) allows adequate time for Vitamin D synthesis and should be followed by application of a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to protect the skin. Ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen is usually sufficient to provide adequate vitamin D. It is very important for individuals with limited sun exposure to include good sources of vitamin D in their diet.

Because scientists are realizing the increasing benefits of how vitamin D may affect the risk of multiple sclerosis, asthma and diabetes, they are recommending that up to 4,000 international units per day is not toxic to the body and is suggested. Foods that naturally contain Vitamin D include cod liver oil, salmon and milk that has been fortified - just to name a few.

So drink your milk and catch some sun - fighting cancer might be as easy as that.


R. Fredriksen is the Vice President of Nutrition Dome, a leading provider of Jarrow Formulas, Pioneer Nutritional Forumulas, Lipodrene and other quality supplements. For more information, please visit www.nutritiondome.com.