There's a paradigm shift going on in medicine as new research reveals a far greater role for vitamin D. Vitamin D is not just for kids -- or the prevention of rickets. Optimal levels of Vitamin D (40-80 ng/ml) enhance the creation and functioning of healthy cells throughout the body. In addition to protecting the bones and boosting the immune system, studies show that Vitamin D helps prevent certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate, and colorectal.Exciting new research shows that in the U.S. alone, thousands of new cases of breast cancer could be prevented every year if more women had optimal levels of vitamin D.
A study conducted by Cedric Garland and other prominent vitamin D researchers determined that women with vitamin D levels above 52 ng/ml have half the risk of developing breast cancer as those with 13 ng/ml! Garland (et al) estimates that 58,000 new cases of breast cancer in the U.S. could be prevented per year by raising vitamin D levels to 52 ng/ml. Imagine what the global impact could be!
A simple blood test is all that's needed to find out your vitamin D level. Five years ago, a range of 20-100 ng/ml was considered normal. Just recently, this range was raised to 32-100 ng/ml. Make sure to ask your healthcare provider what your actual vitamin D level is. Too often women are told that their levels are normal, which is not the same as optimal.
If you're deficient, the best way to boost your vitamin D quickly is to supplement with vitamin D-3. Initially, you may need to take 5,000 IUs per day. After establishing a healthy level, I recommend supplementing with1,000-2,000 IUs per day--it's hard to get all you need from food. Some healthy fish provides 300-700 IUs, but milk only provides 100 IUs per glass.
You may be surprised to learn that the sun is actually the best source of vitamin D. The sun's UVB rays enable our bodies to manufacture vitamin D in the fat layer under the skin, as long as we don't use sunscreen. The body can make enough vitamin D from sun exposure to last the entire year! And it will never create toxic levels, regardless of how long you expose your skin. Although we are taught to fear the sun, sunbathing in moderation -- exposing but never burning the skin -- is good for us. This may explain why the incidence of breast cancer is higher in northern latitudes than at the equator.
I encourage every woman to check her vitamin D level regularly and keep it in the optimal range. This is easily done by supplementing with about 2,000 IUs of vitamin D-3 per day and getting regular, safe sun exposure. (You can even visit a tanning salon that offers UVB tanning rays.) Your breasts and your entire body will benefit. This is preventive medicine at its finest.
References:
1. Staud, R., 2005. Vitamin D: more than just affecting calcium and bone. Curr Rheumatol Rep, Oct;7(5):356-64.
2. Staud, R., 2005. Vitamin D: more than just affecting calcium and bone. Curr Rheumatol Rep, Oct;7(5):356-64.
3. Cannell, J.J., Hollis, B.W. 2008. Use of vitamin D in clinical practice, Altern Med Rev, Mar;13(1):6-20.
4. Cannell, J.J., et al. 2008. On the epidemiology of influenza, Virol J, Feb 25;5:29.
5. Holick, M.F. 2004. Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis, Am J Clin Nutr, 79:362-71.
6. Garland, C.F., et al. 2009 Vitamin D for cancer prevention: global perspective, Ann Epidemiol. Jul;19(7):468-83.
7. Garland, C.F., et al. 2007. Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysis., J Steroid Biochem Mol BiolMar;103(3-5):708-11.
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Christiane Northrup, M.D., a board-certified ob/gyn, is a visionary pioneer, beloved authority in women's health and wellness, and the author of the ground breaking New York Times bestsellers Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause. Her third book, Mother-Daughter Wisdom, was voted Amazon's #1 book of the 2005 (in two categories). Her latest books, The Secret Pleasures of Menopause and The Secret Pleasures of Menopause Playbook, teach how to experience joy, pleasure, prosperity, fulfillment, and vibrant health.
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The sun couldn't be patented or profited from. It couldn't be slickly marketed with bogus claims of miracle rejuvenation. So it was attacked as if it were an enemy. The sun is not your enemy. Its powers to heal are truly incredible.
Ray Salomone Personal Trainer and Wellness Activist
www.GrecoRomanWellness.wordpress.com
--JT
ps, Add me to the group who didn't know what lux is.
David M. Pariser, MD, FAAD
President, American Academy of Dermatology
Perhaps he can explain why melanomas occur in places the sun doesn't shine (soles of feet, intestines/bowel/)?
Maybe the fact those experiencing highest rise in melanoma incidence are indoor workers (who don't get much UVB radiation) is evidence processes other than UV radiation are responsible for Melanoma incidence?.
One likely candidate for increased sensitivity to UV radiation may be increased use of pro-inflammatory omega 6 vegetable oils in conjunction with a reduced intake of omega 3 PUFA?
It also may be the case that increased use of sunscreens is actually making the situation worse firstly by shifting UVB into the UVA spectrum and then by permitting longer UVA exposure, they exacerbate the problem.
Unless the Academay of Dermatology get their act together and start researching the differences between skins with a safe omega 3omega 6 ratio and a natural safe Vitamin D status (is a level that enables human breast milk to flow naturally replete with Vitamin D3) they will find themselves not only subject to less ridicule and contempt but will also find themselves less likely to be sued for their role in increasing skin cancer incidence. .
If women want to lower their risk of breast cancer, they should work out. It lowers the estrogen levels they scientifically linked directly to the development of ovarian and breast cancer.
*Also keep in mind, some long-term studies on vitamin supplements later proved more harm than good. So my advice is if you want to get more Vitamn D, make sure your getting it from natural sources, healthy food, and not too much sunlight.
My doctor finally tested my vitamin D levels and found a deficiency. My levels were 17 and I was told that the normal levels were 20 to 100 (which I now know to be obsolete numbers). I was prescribed vitamin D3 as one weekly dose of 50,000. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take more than one as I got nausea and had other significant side effects. So, I started taking daily doses of 1500- 3000. To my surprise, the sensations disappeared for about 2 weeks but then reappeared but were much diminished. I assume that my levels are still wanting. I can't wait to have my levels tested again.
I am convinced that vitamin D deficiency was the culprit although I am also going to ask my doctor to check my thyroid.
In order to absorb the maximum amount of calcium from our diet a 25(OH)D level of 80nmo/l or 32ng/ml needs to be attained and maintained.
Calcium works in conjunction with magnesium.
Calcium with tense muscle fibres and magnesium relaxes fibres.
Calcium excites brain neurons while magnesium calms neurons.
By rapidly increasing vitamin D status, thereby improving calcium levels it's possible you may expose magnesium insufficiency.
Many people are magnesium deficient . While they also have calcium insufficiency this may not be apparent but correcting the calcium insufficiency without improving magnesium level may result in the type of symptoms Dylansfan experienced.
even sun screen does not work. I take B12 shots weekly. What more can I do?
Prescription vitamin D may well be Ergocalciferol Vitamin D2.
This is a less effective form of the vitamin. Some people are unable to hydroxylate it into the active hormone.
Changing to D3 may well solve that problem.
50,000iu a week is equivalent to 7000iu/daily vitamin D. This should be sufficient for most people to achieve a 25(OH)D around 55ng/ml ~ 70ng/mL. Grassrootshealth D Action are a charity that as part of a vitamin D trial are offering cost price home postal 25(OH)D testing for $40. It may be worth getting a check to see what your current status is.
Building up a natural toleration to UVB exposure takes time. Several very short UVB exposures over the winter will harden the skin and may permit you to go outside in the summer.
You will find a calculator here
"Calculated Ultraviolet Exposure Levels for a Healthy Vitamin D Status"
that enables you to work out exposure times for 1000iu/vitamin D from sunshine.
Remember though human bodies ideally use around 5000iu/daily/D3 so you will need to multiply by 5 to find the ideal time for natural vitamin D from sunshine.
But start with extremely short exposures and work up gradually over several months.
Improving your skin's natural sunscreen potential with a higher omega 3 intake and lower omega 6 intake. this will reduce your current inflammatory status improve photoprotection.
An element that nature deemed so important it comes to us in sunlight...like oxygen in air.
I suspect our high rates of osteoporosis, even while taking calcium, are because we haven't hadn't enough Vit D to metabolize the calcium. Sunscreen a culprit.
A few years ago I decided I would "sacrifice" my arms and legs to sun exposure but still wear sunscreen on my face, neck, chest.....
Go to sciendaily and do a search...deficiency linked to depression, dementia, alzheimers, inflammation, weight gain in puberty, many cancers, frequent infections, you name it.
For you alone
I've enjoyed being out in the sun this summer (other than the weekend I rediscovered how badly one can burn on a hazy day) but in a few short weeks my skin will see much less of the sun. When the temperature drops below 50 degrees F, short sleeves and shorts just don't seem appealing anymore. And when it drops to -20 -- well, a lot less gets exposed!
Dr., I see that you're an Ob-Gyn. My own Ob-Gyn, whom I've had to see for a small bout of what used to be called "Bowen's Disease" (removing the offending cancer cells last year), mentioned that he has seen more STDs in the last year than in his previous 14 yrs of practice, along with an increase in vulvar cancer in 30-something women. Is this also something you've noticed or heard reported? I live in NC.