May 10th, Supplemental

Not sure if anybody else heard about this, but there was an extremely intriguing research report and analysis released last month that suggests (lack of) Vitamin D and it's related pro-forms (D2, D3, D4, etc.) has a very high correlation to increased risk for several cancers. Specifically, this report showed that, of a study of 1200 women, there was a 60% reduction in the appearance of cancer in subjects taking Vitamin D supplements compared to those not taking supplements. I believe I heard on NPR news that this 60% difference is actually a higher level of difference between similar cancer-rate studies comparing people who smoke to those that do not. Interesting to say the least.

Anyhow, I was reading up about it (again, because I'm supposed to be working on a data set... and we all know that frequent breaks help facilitate brilliance and creative thinking) and found another, older, but interesting article about how cancer patients respond much better in the summer than winter following cancer procedures, presumably because the increased sun exposure in the summer allows the body to more easily create higher levels of the 'activated' forms of Vitamin D, which (might? probably?) act as an anti-cancer agent.

Might be time to start taking some D Vitamin supplements.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Other readers may be interested to know the serum level associated with a 50 percent reduction in risk could be maintained by taking 2,000iu of vitamin D3 daily plus, when the weather permits, spending 10 to 15 minutes a day in the sun.
For readers living above lat 45N (further from the Equator) a higher intake of vitamin d3 would be needed PLUS longer (20-40mins)exposure to sunlight.
The Vitamin D Council links page provides links to sources of cheap effective strength Vitamin d3. 3 x 5000iu capsules weekly are equivalent to 2000iu daily.
1:32 AM
Big Chris said…
Many thanks for the comments, Ted.
7:38 AM
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