Vitamin D against Colon Cancer
In 1985, scientists studied 2100 men for 19 years. They discovered that colon cancer was more than twice as likely in the men that consumed the least amount of vitamin D and calcium. As about 90 per cent of the average persons’ vitamin D comes from the sun, it was comforting to know that even small amounts of vitamin D in the diet helped prevent colon cancer.
In 1993, researchers from the University of Minnesota, analyzing the data of more than 35,000 women from the Iowa Womens Health Study, found that vitamin D and calcium in the diet significantly reduced the risk of colon cancer. Women with the lowest vitamin D intake were twice as likely to develop colon cancer. Do not forget, diet supplies only 10 per cent of vitamin D as most people get almost all their vitamin D from sun exposure.
In 1997, researchers in Finland confirmed the Garland brothers’ original findings on vitamin D blood levels and colon cancer. Again, they found that the risk of colorectal cancer was highest in those with the lowest blood levels. Perhaps more ominous for the people of Finland (which is very far north and gets little sunlight) was the very low blood levels of vitamin D they were found to have. The average person in Finland had blood levels of only 13 nanogram per ml, a level now known to be associated with numerous serious illnesses, not just cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the western world. About 150,000 Americans will be told they have colon cancer this year and 50,000 will die. Your chance of developing colon cancer, sometime in your life, is about 1 in 15. Blacks are particularly affected by colorectal cancer, as well as other cancers, with both a higher incidence and mortality from colon cancer than non-blacks. We believe this is due to a widespread vitamin D deficiency within the black community.
Many factors contribute to causing colon cancer (it is multifactorial) but diet is probably the most important factor. Certain diets promote colon cancer, such as diets high in fat and red meat. Other diets help prevent colon cancer, especially diets high in fiber, calcium, fruits, and vegetables.
If you have colon cancer, please remember that vitamin D is not a cure-all and should never be used as a main treatment for cancer. Your oncologist will prescribe treatment that has proven efficacy and you should carefully follow their advice as the mainstay of treatment. At the same time, you should know that evidence suggests that the proper amount of vitamin D will help you in your fight against colon cancer.
Vitamin D is found in fortified milk, salmon, cod liver oil, sardines, and mackerel. Spending time in the sun also helps the body produce vitamin D.
However, too much vitamin D can cause nausea, constipation, weakness, and other problems, so Lieberman cautioned against overdoing it.
According to the National Institutes of Health, people aged 19-50 need 200 International Units daily whether in either their diet or in supplements for adequate nutrition, while people between 51 and 69 year old should get 400 International Units each day. People 70 and older need 600 International Units of vitamin D each day. The recommended dose of vitamin D for most children and adults is no more than 1,000 International Units for babies under 12 months according from the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board.
Photo by Boudewijn Berends
