Vitamin D has been in the news a lot lately. It is now known that sub-optimal levels of this fat soluble vitamin can pave the way for increases in osteoporosis, lowered immune function, and greater levels of inflammation throughout the body.
A new study out of the U of Toronto followed 500+ women who were diagnosed with breast cancer for 6 years or more, depending on when the women entered the study. They found that women who were vitamin D deficient at the time of their cancer diagnosis were 94% more likely to have their cancer spread, and 73% more likely to die compared to those women whose levels were optimal.
Cancer cells have vitamin D receptors and it is believed that supplementing with this vitamin can slow down the growth and aggressiveness of these cancer cells.
They are NOT encouraging women to just go out and start taking vitamin D to prevent cancer without getting some information first. Testing for vitamin D is safe and simple. Ask your doctor for a "25-hydroxy vitamin D" test to determine if you are deficient first. If your levels are low--there are three sources for vitamin D. You can combine them but most of us will have to add a supplement to get to the desirable level.
Natural sunlight converts vitamin D in the skin but most of us--wisely--apply sunscreen which blocks D synthesis. It's still ok to take 15 minutes of sun--not at the strongest point in the day--of sun on unprotected skin. After the age of 70 our skin is much less efficient at converting sunlight to D.
Food sources can add some D to your diet. Start looking at labels on dairy products and cereals. Oily fish are also high in Vitamin D.
Supplements are the last and possibly best way to ensure you have a protective level. According to the UC Berkeley Wellness letter "Most experts now agree that blood levels of at least 30 to 40 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter of blood) of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are desirable." You can read a more detailed article on vitamin D here.
Supplements are easy to find, safe, and inexpensive. You might get some D in your calcium supp or in a multi so make sure to read the labels and do the math so you don't end up taking too much. Since it's a fat soluble vitamin you should take it with a meal or snack that includes some fat.
Have you had your levels tested?
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