A new study that was conducted by Creighton University, along with the University of California San Diengo, suggests that vitamin D might help to decrease the risk of cancer.
Researchers sought to investigate the effect of vitamin D on a myriad of cancer types, and they suggest that low levels of vitamin D are likely to increase the risk of cancer. They've published their findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In their 4-year study they used a randomized clinic trial, which included roughly 2,303 participants, from at least 31 different counties in Nebraska.
The study had the participants be randomly assigned to either taking 2000 (IU) international units of vitamin D3 daily, along with 1500mg of calcium, or they would be given placebos instead.
The vitamin D3 dose that they decided to go with, is roughly 3x the recommended allowance by US health officials.
Results
It was found that for the participants who were given vitamin D3 and calcium, that their risk of cancer was lowered by about 30 percent. Though they admit that the cancer incidence rates between the groups isn't statistically significant.
However, in blood sample analysis for women who did develop cancer during the study as opposed to those who remained healthy throughout the study, less vitamin D was shown in the blood levels of those who got sick.
Researchers suggest that substantially higher vitamin D levels are needed in order to help decrease the risk of cancer.
This isn't the first time either that researchers have suggested that there might be a lot of benefit that can be reaped from vitamin D. Previous research in this area also indicates that vitamin D is a critical tool in helping to fight cancer. Aside from cancer, it's also been shown to provide value in preventing other illnesses as well.
Without enough proper vitamin D, human cells are not going to function properly.
Because so many people choose to spend a lot of time indoors these days, it's contributed to a vitamin D deficiency in many. It's estimated that at least 4 percent of the population (over 1.1 million people) in Canada is vitamin D deficient, and for US children it's suggested that 7 out of 10 have low levels of vitamin D as well.
Vitamin D deficiency has been referred to by some health experts as an ignored epidemic and they insist that the issue is a global health problem. They estimate that over 1 billion people in the world are currently vitamin D deficient.
Pics:
Pixabay
The information that is posted above is not intended or implied to ever be used as any substitute for professional medical advice, or diagnosis or treatment. The above is posted for informational purposes only.
Source:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170328120835.htm
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-1-1-million-canadians-1.867320
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803083633.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068797/