Vitamin D and cancer: maintaining levels key to protection?

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Vitamin D and cancer: maintaining levels key to protection?

By ls

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=85199 & c=r35HVrmxihvdBZiVM82XKw%3D%\

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12-May-2008 - Ensuring levels of vitamin D never get low could be a way

of protecting against cancer, suggests a new study from Germany.

Death from fatal cancer was reduced by 55 per cent amongst people with

higher vitamin D levels, according to data collected from 3,299 patients

taking part in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health study and

reported in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

The study adds to a growing body of science supporting potential

anti-cancer benefits of the vitamin, and increases the volume of calls

for raising the recommended daily allowance from 400 IU to 1,000 IU.

" These data support other studies suggesting that vitamin D

supplementation might be promising for the treatment and/or prevention

of cancer and are in line with the national recommendation of the

Canadian Cancer Society for the supplementation of 1,000 IU/d vitamin D

for all adults during winter and for persons at high risk for vitamin D

deficiency all year-round, " wrote lead author Stefan Pilz from

University of Heidelberg.

The link between vitamin D intake and protection from cancer dates from

the 1940s when Apperly demonstrated a link between latitude and

deaths from cancer, and suggested that sunlight gave " a relative cancer

immunity. "

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also

known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. Both D3

and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25-

hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that

is tightly controlled by the body.

Blood levels of 25(OH)D and 1,25-(OH)2D were measured in the study

participants, and over the course of 7.75 years, 95 patients deaths due

to cancer were documented. The most common cancers were lung, colon, and

pancreas.

After adjusting for various potential confounding factors, the

researchers report that people with the highest level of 25(OH)D (76.3

nanomoles per litre) were 55 per cent less likely to die form fatal

cancer than those with the lowest levels (18.1 nmol/L).

Moreover, every increase of 25 nmol/L in 25(OH)D levels was associated

with a 34 per cent risk reduction, added the researchers.

However, no association was observed between levels of 1,25(OH)2D and

cancer risk.

" Our finding that 1,25(OH)2D was not associated with increased risk of

fatal cancer does not argue against a crucial role of 1,25(OH)D in the

prevention of cancer because intracellular 1,25(OH)2D levels can best be

estimated by serum 25(OH)D concentrations, which are rate limiting for

the conversion of 25(OH)D to 1,25(OH)2D, " stated the researchers.

The results, while in need of support from additional studies, indicate

a anti-cancer role for maintained vitamin D levels, and highlight the

potential of supplements or fortified foods. This is particularly

important in northern climes were sunshine levels are not strong enough

for long periods for the body to synthesise the vitamin itself.

Experts call for higher levels

Calls to increase the current recommendations of 200 IU per day for

children and adults up to 50 years of age for vitamin D up to 800 - 1000

IU vitamin D3, have become more frequent in both scientific and public

circles.

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also

known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. The

vitamin can be manufactured in the body on exposure to sunlight and also

consumed in relatively low quantities from the diet.

However because of the low dietary amounts, and lack of sunshine in

northern climates, with some estimates claiming that as much as 60 per

cent of northern populations may be vitamin D deficient.

In adults, vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate

osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers,

autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

2008, Volume 17, Number 5, Pages 1228-1233, doi:1055-9965.EPI-08-0002

" Low Serum Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Predict Fatal Cancer in

Patients Referred to Coronary Angiography "

Authors: S. Pilz, H. Dobnig, B. Winklhofer-Roob, G. Riedmuller, J.E.

Fischer, U. Seelhorst, B. Wellnitz, B.O. Boehm, W. Marz

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ne Holden, MS, RD

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

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