Vitamin D deficiency common in cancer patients

American Society for Radiation Oncology ^ | October 3, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

Predicts advanced disease

Miami Beach, Fla., October 2, 2011 – More than three-quarters of cancer patients have insufficient levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxy-vitamin D) and the lowest levels are associated with more advanced cancer, according to a study presented on October 2, 2011, at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

"Until recently, studies have not investigated whether vitamin D has an impact on the prognosis or course of cancer. Researchers are just starting to examine how vitamin D may impact specific features of cancer, such as the stage or extent of tumor spread, prognosis, recurrence or relapse of disease, and even sub-types of cancer," Thomas Churilla, lead author of the study and a medical student at the Commonwealth Medical College, Scranton, Pa., said.

>

Patients who were found to be vitamin D deficient were administered replacement therapy, increasing serum D levels by an average of 14.9 ng/mL. Investigators will be analyzing if vitamin D supplementation had an impact on aspects of treatment or survival in the long-term.

>

[ConservativeDude]

It would be tragic, but hardly surprising, if we found out clinically that even skin cancer was boosted by low vitamin D levels....

[ConservativeDude]

It would be tragic, but hardly surprising, if we found out clinically that even skin cancer was boosted by low vitamin D levels....

[Cherokee Conservative]

Living in Seattle, my doctors always have me on vitamin D or it gets low. Don’t see the sun enough. People always take things to extremes. If too much sun is a bad thing, they think no sun must be better. Not so.

[RnMomof7]

Because of the NEW standards almost EVERYONE is deficient in Vit D

[RnMomof7]

Because of the NEW standards almost EVERYONE is deficient in Vit D

[momtothree]

This may have absolutely nothing to do with this subject but I remember when my Dad was first diagnosed as terminal. He had huge cravings for two things... milk and apples. He literally would drink a gallon of milk a day and eat four to five apples. (This craving was even before the diagnosis as well). Prior to that, he would eat an apple on occasion and I don’t remember him ever drinking milk. Now I am wondering if it was the Vitamin D (in the milk). I am still confused over the apples but maybe they will find a link to that eventually?

[DaxtonBrown]

[It would be tragic, but hardly surprising, if we found out clinically that even skin cancer was boosted by low vitamin D levels....]

My brother just survived melanoma. We think vitamin D deficiency was part of it.

[fellowgeek]

Seems like we have a Catch-22 here.

Get some sun = prevent cancer.

Get some sun = get cancer.

[Magic Fingers]

“Because of the NEW standards almost EVERYONE is deficient in Vit D”

Reams of new research is showing that the old standards were grossly inadequate for optimal health. There are no big bucks in this for the pharmaceutical industry (unless they can get high doses of Vitamin D outlawed...and they’re working on that).

[ConservativeDude]

my goodness...I am sorry to hear that, but thrilled that he survived!

[aruanan]

It would be tragic, but hardly surprising, if we found out clinically that even skin cancer was boosted by low vitamin D levels....

Or that changes in the body's metabolism and cell-signaling mechanisms induced by cancer result in low vitamin D levels--one such thing could be that vitamin D in the body is synthesized from cholesterol and a rapid proliferation of cancer cells requires cholesterol, thus depleting a substrate for vitamin D synthesis; another could be that since vitamin D is required for various nuclear hormone receptors having to do with cell growth and differentiation, the reduction of vitamin D could come from an increased use of it by rapidly proliferating cancer cells or from an attempt by the body to fight the rapid proliferation by reducing the amounts of vitamin D available for tumor proliferation.

On the other hand, it has been found to interfere with receptor tyrosine kinases, to inhibit cell proliferation, angiogenesis (absolutely required for tumor progression), as well as to facilitate cell differentiation (the loss of which sometimes results in cancer) and apoptosis (a way the cell kills itself when something goes awry).

[shield]

Omega 3 isn’t in a persons cells either who have cancer.

[Magic Fingers]

Get some sun = (maybe) get a highly curable skin cancer
Get some sun = (probably) prevent much more serious cancer

[Will88]

. I am still confused over the apples but maybe they will find a link to that eventually?

Apple peels contain a substance that seems to cause lower incidences of some cancers in those who consume apples regularly. There have been studies in the Scandinavian countries. I think it might be the quercetin, but am not positive.

I'll see if I can Google something on those studies.

[Fawn]

I’ve never been diagnosed with Vot D deficiency while living in Buffalo, NY for 40 years (Avg day of sunshine is 32 days a year)....I moved to Florida and I’m deficient and have to take supplements.

[Magic Fingers]

Based in most of the research I’ve seen I lean toward “on the other hand”.

[momtothree]

I am not being snarky at all, Fawn, but doesn’t Vitamin D levels normally drop as we hit middle age? I know my doctor recommended Vitamin D pills (via vitamins) when I hit 40.

[Will88]

Here is a link that mentions benefits of apple peel. It is an ad, but I’ve seen studies before and there have been several.

http://loveraw.blogspot.com/2011/03/start-using-apples-in-your-breakfast_27.html

[momtothree]

That would absolutely explain it (at least in my eyes). Perhaps the body “knows” it has cancer and creates those cravings? Either way, I found it odd at the time but things like that never leave you.