Low vitamin D levels linked to more aggressive breast cancers

(NaturalNews) Vitamin D has been in the news recently as more studies talk about the metabolic effects of the vitamin and why we need it. A new study has added to evidence for the need for vitamin D. In a study just published in the journalCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, scientists report that breast cancer patients with low levels of vitamin D have more aggressive tumors and a higher risk of recurrence.

This is not a surprising result for many physicians working with cancerpatients, as the link between vitamin D andcancerin general is a fact. There is also a growing understanding that current intakerecommendationsare too low (http://www.naturalnews.com/023356_V...).

"Many oncologists are already following vitamin D levels in their breastcancer patientsand recommending supplements for low levels," said Dr. Laurie Kirstein, a breast surgeon at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. "To link vitamin D levels to the aggressiveness of a particular type ofbreast canceris an interesting finding." Dr. Kirstein added that thisevidenceshould be followed up with a controlled trial.

The current study expands the general knowledge of vitamin D and cancer, putting the link into a context of a particular type of cancer and a particular cancer activity. The study, which examined 155 women at the University of Rochester, also found a link between low vitamin D levels and every major biological marker that is used to indicate prognosis of thedisease.

"The magnitude of the findings was quite surprising," said Luke J. Peppone, the lead researcher and Research Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology. "Based on these results, doctors should strongly consider monitoring vitamin D levels among breast cancer patients and correcting them as needed."

While this study still needs follow up with larger, controlledstudies, it also reinforces a belief in the importance of vitamin D, or as the original publication puts it, the information here adds, "support to previousresearchthat found decreased breast cancer survival among vitamin D deficient individuals."

Current recommendations for vitamin D are 600 International Units (IU) per day for most people. Many researchers, however, regard this number as strangely low (http://www.naturalnews.com/030598_v...). Dr. Robert Heaney, who researches vitamin D at Creighton University, says that adults should be getting at least 4,000 IUs per day, still well within a safe upper limit of 10,000, and which may help protect against cancer and other diseases.

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