Vitamin D Lowers Cancer Risk

Author: Gloria Tsang, RD – April 2006

Another Study affirmed High Levels of Vitamin D lowers Cancer Risk

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health examined cancer incidence and vitamin D exposure of over 47,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. They found that a higher level of Vitamin D (~1500 IU daily) was associated with a 17 percent reduction in all cancer incidences. The benefit of 1500 IU of Vitamin D was even greater in digestive cancers, with a 45 percent reduction of deaths from digestive cancers. Results of this study were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on April 5, 2006.

Editor’s Note – Increase Vitamin D Intake?

Recent studies have suggested daily intake of vitamin D should be raised from 400 IU to 1000 IU. In December 2005, we reported a Vitamin D review study. Researchers from the University of California found that oral intake of 1000 IU vitamin D can reduce the risk of colon, breast and ovarian cancers by as much as 50 percent. Since it is difficult to obtain 1000 IU of Vitamin D daily from food sources alone, the author recommended taking 1000 IU of the active form Vitamin D, i.e. D3 supplement, daily.