Vitamin D and Breast Cancer

Leia

I know this has been a subject of discussion many times on this board, but thought I would post this recent article from Mercola.com. From an article dated May 12, 2013, "Vitamin D Might Be Able to Slash Your Breast Cancer Risk by 90%"

One of the carry away points the article noted, "GrassrootsHealth founder Carole Baggerly believes 90 percent of ordinary breast cancer is related to vitamin D deficiency; in fact, breast cancer has been described as a “vitamin D deficiency syndrome”

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/12/vitamin-d-may-prevent-breast-cancer.aspx

My current D level is 80. Which I achieve with supplements and sunshine, when it is available. Sunshine is opitmal; but I do not get much in the Pacific Northwest, where I live. So, I rely on supplements.

I believe this is something that everyone can benefit from. Vitamin D. There are only benefits, no drawbacks. Nobody has ever died from a Vitamin D overdose. 

And the benefits of a healthy Vitamin D level have been proven in so many studies. This one, with breast cancer, and so many others. 

Something to think about. 

Momine

Thanks for posting that. My cancer was lobular, which may be related to paternal cancers (of which there are several in my case). My father, his twin and their father in turn also had rickets as kids, which is caused by severe D deficiency. Since they all grew up with healthy diets, it is actually a little strange that they would be D-depleted enough to get rickets.

As a result, I have wondered if the association between cancers and low D may have to do with some metabolic problem involving D, rather than a real lack of D, if that makes sense. Suffice to say that I make sure to get some sunlight every day, which is easy given where I live.

Heidihill

Can I move to where you are, Momine? I can tell I'm skimming again the way the weather has been. My onc gives me my D dose but I haven't had it this quarter as I was hoping we'd have sunny days ahead. Sunshine is healthy though not just for Vitamin D, according to this study.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130507195807.htm

Sounds like they really need to study this more.

Momine

Heidi, I agree that a lot of stuff needs more careful and serious study, especially environmental factors (sun/no sun, for example) and all kinds of stuff related to diet and metabolism. One big plus of living in Greece is definitely the weather, and the access to fresh fish and veggies is not bad either.

new_direction

Vitamin D and (other) environmental factors are discussed in this report which deals with "unanswered questions about breast cancer":

http://cbcrp.org/publications/papers/urgentQuestions.pdf

LtotheK

90% is a relative, not absolute risk.  I've enjoyed the conversations about D on these boards, I, too was low at the time of diagnosis.

From the last pdf posted: "According to current evidence, high vitamin D levels in blood and fat appear to protect against breast cancer."  This is overstated.  If you noodle around on these boards, you will find there is also mounting evidence of a "sweet spot"--too much or too little may be a problem.

So much more research is needed.

Skigirl72

I take D3 7000 IU daily. I had my D levels checked a few week ago and it was 40. I had been taking 6000IU for 6 months prior to this test. So, I increased it to 7000.I'd like to see it closer to 80.

My MO was happy to see that I am trying to raise my levels. As a population, we are Vit D deficient. My Dh suffers from mild alopecia. He gets bald spots on his head. once one fills in, another starts. He started taking Vit D (5000IU) daily about a year ago and no more spots. That was the only change he has make. Just an observation from us.

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

voraciousreader

http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/oncology/2013/483687/

mary625

I'm glad to read that there is someone out there taking as much Vit D as I am. I have been taking 5000 IU and have achieved a level of 49. I'd definitely like to get it above 50. I've upped my supplement to 6000 IU daily and am going to start using my DFinder app to get out in the sun. I don't understand what is causing this to be such a challenge and hoping the sun will help. Around the time of diagnosis, I saw that my level was around 17 - 23.

Skigirl72

30 minutes in the sun gives you 10000 to 25000 IU depending on how much skin is exposed. They said just enough time to turn your skin pink. I've been sitting out for 15-30 minutes every few days. Its really just to feel the warmth on my skin but the extra D helps. Of course they are starting to link all kinds of deficiencies to getting BC, like low Vit D levels...

leggo

Although probably not an issue for someone without bone mets, you can absolutely die from vitamin d toxicity. Overdose of vitamin d can cause hypercalemia, which is already an issue with bone mets. I urge anyone with bone mets to carefully monitor their vitamin d intake. The last thing anyone needs is to have their kidneys shut down from too much vitamin d.

http://m.ajcn.nutrition.org/content/88/2/582S.full

Skigirl72

agreed- ALWAYS have your level checked before starting/increasing/decreasing your intake. Its a simple blood test they can add to your normal CBC. If your ins denies you coverage, its a $25 out of pocket expense.

Anonymous

Skigirl thanks for posting the cost of your tests. Oh how I wish they saw it as "simple" in NZ. Im on 50,000IU D3 every 2 weeks on script, the only way to get any D3 that doesnt cost a bomb. They refuse to fund any more tests because they are "too expensive" and the last one I had was in the range of whats considered normal, which is understated. All up I had 3 tests earlier on and Ive been on this now for over 2 years. I havent been tested for I don't know how long. I was very deficient to start with.

nixie

vit d levels above 220 nmol/l increase the risk of vit d toxicity. so i would say a vit d blood test is the right thing to do every 6 months or so if u r taking large doses.

kyliet

My chemist told me to split my dose - half morning, half night, she said the body absorbs it better that way. I don't know if there is scientific evidence of this but I figure it can't hurt.