Vitamin D levels tied to colon cancer risk

Reuters ^ | September 1, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new analysis of earlier research finds that both higher vitamin D intake and higher blood levels of the vitamin's active form are linked to lower risk of colon and rectal cancers.

In 18 studies that included more than 10,000 people, colon cancer risk was as much as 33 percent lower in subjects with the highest blood levels of vitamin D compared to those with the lowest levels, researchers report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Those with the highest intake of vitamin D through supplements and food had 12 percent lower risk than those with the lowest intakes.

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Limitations of the analysis, the researchers note, included the lack of uniform criteria for comparison groups across the various studies; also, not all of the studies had information on vitamin D intake or its blood levels for individuals, only ranges for groups. The "lowest" and "highest" categories in different studies also varied significantly.

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[caveat emptor]

You might find this video interesting.

Can vitamin D help prevent certain cancers and other diseases such as type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain autoimmune and chronic diseases? To answer these questions and more, UCSD School of Medicine and GrassrootsHealth bring you this innovative series on vitamin D deficiency. Join nationally recognized experts as they discuss the latest research and its implications. In this program, Cedric Garland, Dr. PH, discusses the expected vitamin D serum level for cancer prevention. Series: Vitamin D Deficiency – Treatment and Diagnosis

This is a fast-moving, fairly informal, fairly technical presentation which also discusses cures. I sometimes found it difficult to follow but overall found it interesting and informative, and surprising in that it seems to be fairly mainstream in medical research circles. Lots of graphs and charts help.

[decimon]

Thanks.