Vitamin D for Improving Survival

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dlb823
dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
edited September 2014 in Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results

I thought these rather stunning research results were worth sharing because it specifically addresses survivorship vs. prevention.

"Higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with lower fatality rates in patients with breast cancer.  Patients with the highest concentration of 25(OH)D had approximately half the fatality rate compared to those with the lowest concentration."

 http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/34/3/1163.full

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  • jramick
    jramick Member Posts: 88
    edited May 2014

    Wow!  Just another reminder to take that daily pill!  Impressive and thank you for sharing the post dlb!!! I needed some good news today!

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  • LKSHER
    LKSHER Member Posts: 209
    edited May 2014

    Please help me understand.  My Vit D was 12 close to diagnosis and I have brought it up over 30, so far.  Does it matter that I have brought it up and will continue to do so, or does the fact that it was so low at diagnosis affect my prognosis?

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  • shoppygirl
    shoppygirl Member Posts: 694
    edited May 2014

    hi

    I take Vit D but I am wondering if I am taking enough. How much is everyone taking?  

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited May 2014

    my vit D level was 88 a couple of years ago.  Without getting levels checked again when i got BCi started to take 2500 units a day.  I have been doing that for months and last week levels measured 57.  I am not sure which came first...the lower level or the cancer. 

    My friend was taking 45,000 units.  My pharmacist (integrative health) told me to take 4-5000.

    Thank you for this article.

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2014

    A blood test at my doctors showed I had toxic levels of Vit. D in my blood.  My doctor thought I had benign tumors on my thyroid as this is the most common cause.  I went on the internet and found that another cause of toxic levels of Vit. D is overdose.  I checked the jar I had bought at Sam's and the recommended dosage was one jell cap a day.  That one cap was 10,000 units, way too much.  I quit taking supplements for a long time to get it down.

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited May 2014

    hHi Deanna

    My D levels were always in the normal range

    My onco told me between45-60 was normal???.

    I still take 1,000 Iu a day ...

    My blood work was fine

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  • pip57
    pip57 Member Posts: 12,401
    edited May 2014

    I take 4,000 a day and my GP and onc are good with that.  

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited May 2014

    pip57, I see your in Ontario, did you have to pay for vit D testing? 

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited May 2014

    it should be vit D3. That's the hardest for us to make. Low end of normal is 40.  

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited May 2014

    we pay $65. In BC

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  • rozem
    rozem Member Posts: 1,375
    edited May 2014

    im in ontario and mine was covered due to BC history or its $40 out of pocket

    I take 2000 iud in the form of d3 drops

    How often shoukd we be tested? 

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  • LKSHER
    LKSHER Member Posts: 209
    edited May 2014

    I took 50,000 for 8 wks after radiation and then switched to 4,000 because I had bought an organic bottle of caps with 2,000 each.  When my level didn't come up enough, my primary care told me to take 2 caps until my bottle ran out and then replace it with a bottle with 5,000 each.  

    I am a squeaky wheel and make them test me every time they take my blood.

    It went from 12 to 18 and is up in the 30's now.  Still needs to go up.

    Does anyone know if bringing it up now is going to help me or if the level at diagnosis is what affects prognosis?

    Thanks!!

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  • laurie2025
    laurie2025 Member Posts: 117
    edited May 2014

    I am currently taking 50,000 iu a week (1 chewable wafer).  My level was 22 when it was last tested during my radiation.

    My Radiation Oncologist wanted me to get the level up to at least 40 preferably 50.

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2014

    kayb, my toxic level was 103.0.  The upper limit is 80 on lab report.

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  • LKSHER
    LKSHER Member Posts: 209
    edited May 2014

    Thank you, Kayb!  That is what I thought I understood, but some of these articles are not always easily understood by me.  I get too bored and distracted.  :)

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2014

    kayb, that is 103.0 ng/mL.  That NIH web site says above 50, evidence of getting getting toxic.

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited May 2014

    I was DX's with 14 in 2011. I took 10,00 a day til it got up to 30, that took til 2013. I now take 5000 a day and it is now 45. I was thinking I probably should take a bit more. My Dr's prefer over 50.

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  • pip57
    pip57 Member Posts: 12,401
    edited May 2014

    slv58... My doctor told me that getting vit d levels checked can be misleading. The readings can change significantly throughout a day. It depends on diet, absorbtion, activity, sunlight exposure, etc.   However, she will do one if I ask.

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  • peacestrength
    peacestrength Member Posts: 690
    edited April 2015

    Mine started at 30, went up to 44, and now has stalled out at 56. My naturopathics want me between 75-80 - so it was increased to 8,000 iu's daily.  I take liquid drops.

    Pip is correct, vit d levels vary by the day - but still ok to get tested because levels shouldn't swing in a huge way unless there is a problem.

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  • riverhorse
    riverhorse Member Posts: 126
    edited May 2014

    just a caution.  I too had low vit d at diagnosis -- 25    I started taking 5000 d3 tablets and calcium.  Result. D3 went to 75 and serum calcium went above normal.  Of course I was worried, as elevated serum calcium can indicate bone mets.  My onc reduced the d3 to 2000 and eliminated the calcium.   Last test -- normal serum calcium and d3 at 57, which my onc thinks a great result.   So apparently different people have different tolerances to d3 supplements.   

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited May 2014

    I've recently upped my intake of D3 to 10,000 IUs (2 x 5,000), in spite of test results in the mid 60s to low 70s (I live in sunny Southern CA).  But I figure with my recent re-dx, I want to utilize every possible thing I can.  But it's also good to know that the potential for overdose is there.  D is fat soluble, so an excess build up is possible.

    I heard a doctor on XM Doctor Radio once say that you can't absorb more than 2,500 IUs of D3 at a time.  So taking higher doses in increments of 2,500 IUs might be even wiser, if you remember to take it.

    And I think there can be a significant difference between synthetic and natural brands.  Taking man made ascorbic acid, for example, is not the same thing as eating an orange or taking a supplement made from organic oranges, where you have all the surrounding macro and micro nutrients that probably work with the natural vitamin C in the fruit.  I believe this is a major reason why research studies often show no benefit to supplementing on specific diseases or conditions (e.g. Vitamin E and heart disease)  --  because they use synthetic products, and also because you can't suddenly add a supplement to your regimen if you've always had horrible lifestyle habits and suddenly expect positive results from adding the supplement alone.   Just my take on it...    Deanna

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  • EnELLE
    EnELLE Member Posts: 42
    edited September 2014

    Great news...although it states serum vitamin D levels. So even if you are taking Vit D, have your Dr test for it when you get your blood work done. If you are takig Vit D and your levels are low...in lieu of increasing dosage, it is known that taking viamin K2  is needed when taking Vit D supplements. 




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