Re: Vitamin D Linked to Lung Cancer Survival, Study Suggests

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting all these papers Asfy. I am particularly interested in this one as Vitamin D seems to be cropping up all the time as being vital for so many things....and most of us don't have enough of it.

Becky

From: asfy <asfyso@...>samters Sent: Wed, 2 March, 2011 23:35:14Subject: Vitamin D Linked to Lung Cancer Survival, Study Suggests

Vitamin D Linked to Lung Cancer Survival, Study Suggests

ScienceDaily (Mar. 1, 2011) — Recent research suggests vitamin D may be able to stop or prevent cancer. Now, a new study finds an enzyme that plays a role in metabolizing vitamin D can predict lung cancer survival.

The study, from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, suggests that this enzyme stops the anti-cancer effects of vitamin D.

Levels of the enzyme, called CYP24A1, were elevated as much as 50 times in lung adenocarcinoma compared with normal lung tissue. The higher the level of CYP24A1, the more likely tumors were to be aggressive. About a third of lung cancer patients had high levels of the enzyme. After five years, those patients had nearly half the survival rate as patients with low levels of the enzyme.

Researchers then linked this to how CYP24A1 interacts with calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D. CYP24A1 breaks down calcitriol, which has a normal and crucial role when kept in check. But when levels of CYP24A1 climb, the enzyme begins to hinder the positive anti-cancer effects of vitamin D.

Results of the study appear in Clinical Cancer Research.

Previous studies have linked low levels of vitamin D to a higher incidence of cancer and worse survival. Researchers are looking at using vitamin D to help prevent lung cancer from returning and spreading after surgery. This new study suggests the possibility of using CYP24A1 levels to personalize this approach to those likely to benefit most.

"Half of lung cancers will recur after surgery, so it's important to find a way to prevent or delay this recurrence. A natural compound like vitamin D is attractive because it has few side effects, but it's even better if we can determine exactly who would benefit from receiving vitamin D," says study author Nithya Ramnath, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School.

Researchers also are working to identify drugs that block CYP24A1. Blocking the enzyme would reinstate the positive anti-cancer effects of vitamin D, suggesting that this inhibitor could potentially be combined with vitamin D treatments.

Note: Current recommendations call for 600-800 IU of vitamin D daily, depending on age. Studies looking at vitamin D in lung cancer are testing medically administered doses 200 times what could be taken by mouth naturally. Taking large amounts of vitamin D supplements is not currently recommended to prevent or treat lung cancer.

Lung cancer statistics: 222,520 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year and 157,300 will die from the disease, making it the biggest cancer killer, according to the American Cancer Society

Additional U-M authors: Guoan Chen, So Hee Kim, N. King, Lili Zhao, U. Simpson, J. Christensen, Zhuwen Wang, Dafydd G. , J. Giordano, Lin Lin, Dean E. Brenner, G. Beer

Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health.

[Guest guest]

If taken year around, 50,000 UI/week (=7,000 UI/day) is slightly above what Dr.

Cannell, one of the best known vitamin D advocates, takes for himself :

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/treatment.shtml

In case of real B12 deficiency, it is best taken IV. The liver is already

supposed to store B12.

> >

> > Vitamin D Linked to Lung Cancer Survival, Study Suggests

> > ScienceDaily (Mar. 1, 2011) — Recent research suggests vitamin D may

> > be able to stop or prevent cancer. Now, a new study finds an enzyme that

> > plays a role in metabolizing vitamin D can predict lung cancer survival.

> >

> > The study, from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive

> > Cancer Center, suggests that this enzyme stops the anti-cancer effects

> > of vitamin D.

> >

> > Levels of the enzyme, called CYP24A1, were elevated as much as 50 times

> > in lung adenocarcinoma compared with normal lung tissue. The higher the

> > level of CYP24A1, the more likely tumors were to be aggressive. About a

> > third of lung cancer patients had high levels of the enzyme. After five

> > years, those patients had nearly half the survival rate as patients with

> > low levels of the enzyme.

> >

> > Researchers then linked this to how CYP24A1 interacts with calcitriol,

> > the active form of vitamin D. CYP24A1 breaks down calcitriol, which has

> > a normal and crucial role when kept in check. But when levels of CYP24A1

> > climb, the enzyme begins to hinder the positive anti-cancer effects of

> > vitamin D.

> >

> > Results of the study appear in Clinical Cancer Research.

> >

> > Previous studies have linked low levels of vitamin D to a higher

> > incidence of cancer and worse survival. Researchers are looking at using

> > vitamin D to help prevent lung cancer from returning and spreading after

> > surgery. This new study suggests the possibility of using CYP24A1 levels

> > to personalize this approach to those likely to benefit most.

> >

> > " Half of lung cancers will recur after surgery, so it's important to

> > find a way to prevent or delay this recurrence. A natural compound like

> > vitamin D is attractive because it has few side effects, but it's even

> > better if we can determine exactly who would benefit from receiving

> > vitamin D, " says study author Nithya Ramnath, M.D., associate professor

> > of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School.

> >

> > Researchers also are working to identify drugs that block CYP24A1.

> > Blocking the enzyme would reinstate the positive anti-cancer effects of

> > vitamin D, suggesting that this inhibitor could potentially be combined

> > with vitamin D treatments.

> >

> > Note: Current recommendations call for 600-800 IU of vitamin D daily,

> > depending on age. Studies looking at vitamin D in lung cancer are

> > testing medically administered doses 200 times what could be taken by

> > mouth naturally. Taking large amounts of vitamin D supplements is not

> > currently recommended to prevent or treat lung cancer.

> >

> > Lung cancer statistics: 222,520 Americans will be diagnosed with lung

> > cancer this year and 157,300 will die from the disease, making it the

> > biggest cancer killer, according to the American Cancer Society

> >

> > Additional U-M authors: Guoan Chen, So Hee Kim, N. King, Lili

> > Zhao, U. Simpson, J. Christensen, Zhuwen Wang, Dafydd G.

> > , J. Giordano, Lin Lin, Dean E. Brenner, G. Beer

> >

> > Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Can you take too much Vitamin D?

[Guest guest]

Yes, either chronically or accidentally, but such reports are very rare and

symptoms usually resolve by stopping and waiting. I personally take 1,200-2,100

UI/day, but there are articles hinting that 5,000-10,000 UI/day is probably safe

on the long-term. One-shot high doses (like a 100,000 UI ampule) have a good

safety profile but are less efficient than small daily doses. However, since Dr.

Cannell himself does not take more than 5,000 UI/day in Winter, I would not

personally take more than that on the long term just for the sake of precaution.

>

> Can you take too much Vitamin D?

>

[Guest guest]

The thing with charts and graphs and what other people take, even if they are

doctors, really is just a place to start. Everyone is different and it might not

be how much Vitamin D you take but how your body processes it. I get complete

blood tests twice a year, and am on a vitamin D dosage that keeps my body at a

good level. If anyone wants, or thinks, that they need to increase their own

Vitamin D intake, it is probably wise to have the blood tests done and then you

can take the dosage that best suits your body.

It was mentioned that B12 shots are better than tablets. I agree, but my doctor

is concerned about the dye in the B12 shot, and what affect it may have on me.

Again, everyone is different.

> >

> > Can you take too much Vitamin D?

> >

>