Shedding Light on Vitamin D and Integrative Oncology

[Guest guest]

Ira Cantor, MD

Steiner Medical and Therapeutic Center, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania,

isc@...

Studies show an important relationship between vitamin D and malignancies, both

in prevention and treatment. The extraskeletal actions of vitamin D relevant to

oncology include being proapoptotic, antimetastatic, antiangiogenic,

antiinflammatory, prodifferentiating, and immunomodulating. Widespread and

severe vitamin D deficiencies exist worldwide. Decreased sun exposure, caused by

lifestyle changes, as well as fear of skin cancers, is the main cause of these

deficiencies. Recommended daily oral intakes, as well as suggested blood levels,

are below optimal levels suggested by studies. Improvement in vitamin D status,

through lifestyle changes and supplementation, can be of profound benefit

regarding the occurrence and mortality of malignancies

[Guest guest]

Can you offer suggestions on the optimal intake for cancer patients? I'm

currently taking about 10,000 units of D3 a day, and thinking of going up to

20,000 units, with 90 mcg of K2 in the mix.

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> Ira Cantor, MD

> Steiner Medical and Therapeutic Center, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, isc@...

>

> Studies show an important relationship between vitamin D and malignancies,

both in prevention and treatment. The extraskeletal actions of vitamin D

relevant to oncology include being proapoptotic, antimetastatic, antiangiogenic,

antiinflammatory, prodifferentiating, and immunomodulating. Widespread and

severe vitamin D deficiencies exist worldwide. Decreased sun exposure, caused by

lifestyle changes, as well as fear of skin cancers, is the main cause of these

deficiencies. Recommended daily oral intakes, as well as suggested blood levels,

are below optimal levels suggested by studies. Improvement in vitamin D status,

through lifestyle changes and supplementation, can be of profound benefit

regarding the occurrence and mortality of malignancies

>