DENVER – New research suggests vitamin D supplements may improve low-grade prostate cancers by reducing inflammation.
The vitamin therapy may also lessen the need for surgery or radiation treatment.
These findings were presented at the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society in March.
The new randomized, controlled clinical trial sorted 37 men undergoing elective prostatectomies either to a group that received 4,000 U of vitamin D per day, or to a placebo group that didn’t receive vitamin D. The participants’ prostate glands were removed and examined 60 days later and it was found that many of the men on vitamin D supplements showed improvement in their prostate tumors, whereas the tumors in the placebo group either stayed the same or got worse.
Vitamin D also caused dramatic changes in the expression levels of many cell lipids and proteins, particularly those involved in inflammation.
It was noted the dosage of vitamin D administered in the study — 4,000 U — is well below the 10,000-20,000 U that the human body can make from daily sun exposure.
Dr. Adam Graves, ND, LAc, practices at Colorado Natural Medicine in Castle Rock, Colorado, said “This is another important study showing the role of vitamin D in the role of cancer. Although small, it will hopefully lead to larger studies.”
Graves said “The take home message from this study is that not only should men be taking vitamin D and getting their levels checked, they should also get outside and get more sunshine and fresh air to increase their vitamin D and help their bodies decrease inflammation and cancer.”
To learn more about cancer prevention, visit thecancersummit.com
