Vitamin D Prescription- Health Benefits of Vitamin D

Entries from June 2009

Could Vitamin D Have Prevented Farah Fawcett’s Death?

June 27, 2009 · 2 Comments

Farah Fawcett lost her battle with Colon Cancer on July 25th, 2009.  Farah was at  TV superstar from the 1970’s hit show, Charlie’s Angels.   Could her colon cancer had been prevented?  While I do not know the specifics of her case- studies show that up to colon cancer can be reduced by up to 50% when one optimizes their vitamin D levels. Learn more about Vitamin D and cancer risk. Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and more…..

—-BELOW IS AN EXCERPT FROM VITAMIN D PRESCRIPTION BY ERIC MADRID MD, available on Amazon.com—-


Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the top three cancers affecting those in developed countries. According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer accounts for 8% of all cancer deaths in men and 9% of all cancer deaths in women in the U.S. Colon cancer will affect 1 in 18 men and 1 in 19 women at some point in their lives. Fortunately, the majority of cases can be prevented. Worldwide, the World Health Organization predicts that colon cancer rates will increase 50% by 2020 and will affect up to 20 million people annually.

Risk factors for developing colon cancer include:

  • Colon Polyps
  • Poor diet, especially high in red meats
  • Overweight
  • Obesity
  • Racial Groups (African Americans &  Ashkenazi Jews)
  • Lack of exercise
  • Excess alcohol intake
  • Family history
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Vitamin D deficiency

Those with higher consumption of fruits and vegetables have a benefit in preventing colon cancer from developing in the first place. A 1996 study reported in JAMA suggested that the trace mineral selenium, a potent antioxidant, and part of the glutathione reductase antioxidant complex, could also be protective against precancerous polyps and colon cancer.

There has been renewed interest in the last few years on the ability of sunshine to prevent colon cancer. Specifically, the sunshine vitamin has anti colon cancer properties, observed back in the 1930s, and later confirmed in the 1980s by Cedric Garland, DrPH (Moores Cancer Center University of California, San Diego), and Frank C. Garland, PhD, FACE (Technical Director, Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), San Diego).
Drs. Cedric and Frank Garlands’ landmark study showed that the risk of colon cancer was associated with solar radiation exposure; many other studies have since confirmed this finding. Drs. Garlands’ 1980 study revealed that in the two states with the most solar radiation, New Mexico and Arizona, white males had cancer rates of 6.7 and 10.1, respectively, per 100,000 people. In the three states with the least solar radiation, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, white males experienced colon cancer rates of 17.3, 11.3, and 15.3, respectively, per 100,000 population. Data collection occurred from 1959 to 1961. The conclusion was that those with more sunshine exposure had less colon cancer when compared to those with less sunshine exposure.

A review of the CDC web site and the statistics for colon and rectal cancer from 2002–2004 shows similar results. The data today is more inclusive, with men and women from all ethnicities. Arizona and New Mexico have total colon and rectal cancer rates of 49.9 and 51.8, respectively, per 100,000 population. On the contrary, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire have rates of 63.0, 57.9, and 59.9, respectively, per 100,000 population…..read more about vitamin D and colon cancer when you purchase Vitamin D Prescription by Dr. Eric Madrid

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Categories: Cancer · Colon cancer

Vitamin D Helps Reverse Prostate Cancer

June 21, 2009 · 2 Comments

Vitamin D hope in prostate cancer

By Emma Wilkinson
BBC News health reporter

Vitamin D is an effective treatment for prostate cancer in some patients, a UK study suggests.

A once daily dose reduced PSA level – an indicator of severity of disease – by as much as half in 20% of patients.

There has been much interest in vitamin D in prostate cancer after studies linking risk of the disease to sunlight exposure, the researchers said.

One expert agreed the findings were encouraging but said it needed to be tested in a bigger population.

The trial – results of which are due to be published in the journal BJU International – was set up after one patient got better when his wife bought him some vitamin D tablets.

The role of supplements in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer is an area which deserves a greater level of research attention
John Neate, The Prostate Cancer Charity

Professor Jonathan Waxman, said the example had prompted him to assess the effects in a wider group of patients.

Out of 26 men with recurrent prostate cancer, who took a daily dose of vitamin D2 bought from the chemist, five responded to the treatment.

In two the PSA level, fell by more than half, in two by 25-50% and in one man it fell by less than 25%.

The effects in one man were sustained for 36 months.

Welcome addition

Study leader Professor Jonathan Waxman, from Imperial College London, said vitamin D therapy was effective and well-tolerated.

“It’s very interesting – there has been no significant trial of vitamin D.

“This is a treatment which is unlikely to have significant toxicity and is a welcome addition to the therapeutic options for patients with prostate cancer.”

He agreed that a further trial in a larger number of patients, comparing vitamin D with a dummy pill was warranted.

One theory is that vitamin D interferes with the effect of the androgen receptor, which is stimulated by hormones such as testosterone and implicated in prostate cancer.

John Neate, chief executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said it was not the first study looking at vitamin D in the disease but a consensus on the benefits had not been reached.

“This small scale study investigating the use of vitamin D as a ’stand alone’ treatment for men with progressive prostate cancer provides a valuable additional perspective.

“Many men with prostate cancer may wonder whether they should take vitamin D supplements to control their disease.

“This study does not answer that question, but maintaining a good level of vitamin D is recommended as part of a generally healthy lifestyle.

“The role of supplements in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer is an area which deserves a greater level of research attention.”

Professor Malcolm Mason, Cancer Research UK prostate cancer expert based at Cardiff University agreed the results were encouraging but more evidence was needed.

“We advise men with prostate cancer to consult their doctor before taking vitamin D supplements.”

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8017323.stm

Published: 2009/04/26 23:17:20 GMT

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Vitamin D and Brain Power

June 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment

June 2, 2009 — Lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in older men are associated with slower psychomotor processing speed, according to the results of a population-based, cross-sectional study reported in the May 21 Online First issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

“Although there is evidence that vitamin D inadequacy may be linked to adverse cognitive outcomes, results from studies on this topic have been inconsistent,” write David M. Lee, from the University of Manchester in Manchester, United Kingdom, and colleagues. “The aim of our trial was to examine the association between…25(OH)D levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older European men.”

At 8 centers taking part in the European Male Ageing Study, 3369 men, ranging in age from 40 to 79 years, underwent evaluation of cognitive performance and measurement of serum 25(OH)D levels by radioimmunoassay. Psychological testing included the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test, the Camden Topographical Recognition Memory (CTRM) test, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Physical activity, functional performance, and mood/depression were also evaluated. Locally weighted and linear regression models were used to explore associations between cognitive function and 25(OH)D levels....read more here…

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