Women who have higher vitamin D levels, compared to those with lower amounts, are twice as likely to survive breast cancer, new research suggests. Past studies claimed that vitamin D lowered the risk of heart disease, bone fractures and depression as well.
The association between breast cancer and vitamin D intrigued Professor Cedric F. Garland, the study's leader, of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, given that previous research showed lower levels of the nutrient actually increased the risk of premenopausal breast cancer.
Garland and his research team looked specifically at the 25-hydroxyvitamin D metabolite that is produced from vitamin D in the body. Over 4,400 patients were followed over a nine-year period, one group containing a "high" amount of the metabolite in their blood (30 nanograms per milliliter) and the other with a "low" amount (17 nanograms per milliliter). To better compare the two, the average amount of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood of a U.S. breast cancer patient is 17 ng/ml.
The findings showed that women who had high levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D had a 50 percent lower mortality rate compared to the low metabolite group.
Garland explains the mechanics behind this wonder nutrient.
"As long as vitamin D receptors are present tumor growth is prevented and kept from expanding its blood supply," he said in a news release. Vitamin D receptors are not lost until a tumor is very advanced. This is the reason for better survival in patients whose vitamin D blood levels are high."
Vitamin D is important for regulating calcium and phosphorus absorption in our bones. We get this nutrient mainly from the sun, but some foods - such as oily fish, eggs and fortified fat spreads - contain small amounts of the vitamin, and supplements are also available for an extra boost.
Garland does say that more research is needed, but based on what they discovered there should be no hesitation towards putting the vitamin to work.
"The study has implications for including vitamin D as an adjuvant to conventional breast cancer therapy," said co-author Heather Hofflich.
