Prevent cancer with vitamin D3 and calcium

Added 30.09.2009

Cancer on the rise

New cases of cancer worldwide are on the rise. Increasing global pollution is likely to blame as is our sedentary and "indoor" lifestyle over the past decades. In 2006, 45,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 35,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK. A study published this year, however, discloses that most of these cases could actually be prevented.

Vitamin D3 and calcium can decrease your risk of cancer

A study predicts that as many as 58,000 new cases of breast cancer and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer could be prevented each year in the United States and Canada by simply increasing levels of vitamin D3 and calcium - the vast majority of people do not have sufficient levels. Additionally, 75% of deaths from these types of cancer could also be prevented.

How much vitamin D3 and calcium should you take?

Many researchers recommedn 2,000 IU of vitamin D - in the form of cholecalciferol (D3) from sun exposure and supplements - and 1,000 mg of calcium a day for adults. Children and people over 50 need 1,200 to 1,300 mg of calcium from food and supplements. Vitamin D is also vital for the absorption of calcium.

The exact mechanism of action is still unclear; but lead researcher Dr. Cedric Garland expains, "The first event in cancer is loss of communication among cells due to, among other things, low vitamin D and calcium levels...we propose that this loss may play a key role in cancer by disrupting the communication between cells that is essential to healthy cell turnover, allowing more aggressive cancer cells to take over." Previous research by this team also found a relationship between low levels of vitamin D and ovarian and kidney cancer.

How to get sufficient levels of vitamin D and calcium

The best source of vitamin D is sunshine if you expose all your skin to sunlight for 20 minutes every day, all year round. This of course is without using sunscreen - suncreen blocks 95% of UV light absorption and hinders vitamin D production. As you know it is virtually impossible to expose yourslef to sunshine every day, especially in the Northern hemisphere. You could also try and get your vitamin D from food sources, but very few foods contain vitamin D naturally. Salmon, tuna and mackerel contain vitamin D but huge amounts would have to be eaten every day to come close to the 2,000 IU needed to prevent cancer and other diseases.

Researchers agree that you need to add vitamin D3 supplements

So what can you do to make sure you are producing enough vitamin D all year round? High quality supplements which contain sufficient doses of vitamin D3 in addition to calcium is the best way to ensure you are getting adequate levels. Doctor's Natural Vitamins will give you the new scientifically recommended 2,000 IU - as well as calcium, magnesium, vitamin K2, silicon and boron that are needed not only for cancer protection but also for good bone health.

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Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:

These new exciting scientific studies reveal that the lack of vitamin D that most of us suffer from is one of the main reasons why more and more of us develop cancer. Even though many of us enjoy being in the sun we are tol by dermatologists never to expose ourselves without using strong sun protection. This may be true when talking about skin cancer, but certainly not when we look at the far more common types of cancer like breast, colon, uterine and kidney cancer. Too much sun may give you skin cancer, too little sun increases your risk of developing breast and colon cancer. The only way to deal with this paradox is to enjoy the sun (when it is available) and take a daily supplement including 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 in addition to other important supplements and a healthy lifestyle.