"Hollis wondered if giving these men vitamin D supplements during the 60-day waiting period [prior to surgery] would affect their prostate cancer. His previous research had shown that when men with low-grade prostate cancer took vitamin D supplements for a year, 55 percent of them showed decreased Gleason scores or even complete disappearance of their tumors compared to their biopsies a year before (J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2012, DOI: 10.1210/jc.2012-1451).
In a new randomized, controlled clinical trial, his team assigned 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 men’s prostate glands were removed and examined 60 days later.
Preliminary results from this study indicate that many of the men who received vitamin D showed improvements in their prostate tumors, whereas the tumors in the placebo group either stayed the same or got worse. Also, vitamin D caused dramatic changes in the expression levels of many cell lipids and proteins, particularly those involved in inflammation. “Cancer is associated with inflammation, especially in the prostate gland,” says Hollis. “Vitamin D is really fighting this inflammation within the gland.”
The protein most strongly induced by vitamin D was one called growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15). Previous studies by other groups showed that GDF15 dials down inflammation, and many aggressive prostate cancers make little or no GDF15.
The new research suggests that vitamin D supplementation may improve low-grade prostate cancers by reducing inflammation, perhaps lessening the need for eventual surgery or radiation treatment. “We don’t know yet whether vitamin D treats or prevents prostate cancer,” says Hollis. “At the minimum, what it may do is keep lower-grade prostate cancers from going ballistic.”
Hollis notes that 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. “We’re treating these guys with normal body levels of vitamin D,” he says. “We haven’t even moved into the pharmacological levels yet.”
The researchers acknowledge funding from Gateway for Cancer Research, the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institutes of Health and South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research Institute.
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio."
SUNSHINE: Vitamin D Slows Colon Cancer Progression: June 2017
CHICAGO – In recent years, observational data have shown that higher plasma levels of vitamin D are associated with improved survival in colorectal cancer patients.
Now, for the first time, a randomized trial has shown that disease progression is slowed with high-dose supplements.
That's not new- it's from 2015, and it did NOT prove that it slows down cancer. It only showed that there was less inflammation in the prostates of 37 men randomized to take it. The randomized clinical trial that proved that Vitamin D had no effect on prostate cancer, or any other cancer, was this one that proved that large monthly doses of Vitamin D3 did not prevent prostate cancer, nor did it change the progression of pre-existing prostate cancer. This trumps all previous observational and epidemiological studies.
Dr. Allen said: "The randomized clinical trial that proved that Vitamin D had no effect on prostate cancer, or any other cancer ."
According to the American Cancer Society, Allen's statement is wrong:
"A new study authored by scientists from the American Cancer Society, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and more than 20 other medical centers and organizations finds that higher circulating vitamin D concentrations are significantly associated with lower colorectal cancer risk. This study strengthens the evidence, previously considered inconclusive, for a protective relationship. Optimal vitamin D concentrations for colorectal cancer prevention may be higher than the current National Academy of Medicine recommendations, which are based only on bone health. The study appears online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "
Blood vitamin D levels linked to colorectal cancer risk
Date:
June 14, 2018
Source:
American Cancer Society
Summary:
A new study authored by scientists from more than 20 medical centers and organizations finds that higher circulating vitamin D concentrations are significantly associated with lower colorectal cancer risk.
Look at the dates of the studies.Also a large randomized clinical trial trumps all previous observational studies. I'll keep writing about levels of evidence until you guys understand it.
Vitamin D Increases Breast Cancer Patient Survival, Study Shows
Mar. 6, 2014 — Breast cancer patients with high levels of vitamin D in their blood are twice as likely to survive the disease as women with low levels of this nutrient, report researchers. According to the National ... read more
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Vitamin D protects against colds and flu, finds major global study
Date:
February 16, 2017
Source:
University of Queen Mary London
Summary:
Vitamin D supplements protect against acute respiratory infections including colds and flu, according to a study. The study provides the most robust evidence yet that vitamin D has benefits beyond bone and muscle health.
Oral vitamin D supplements reduced levels of Ki67 in prostate cancer cells
Date:
March 31, 2012
Source:
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Summary:
Higher oral doses of plain vitamin D raised levels of calcitriol in prostate tissue. Higher prostate levels of calcitriol, a hormone made from vitamin D, corresponded with lower levels of the proliferation marker Ki67 and increased levels of cancer growth-inhibitory microRNAs in prostate cancer cells, according to new data.
Terms like "suggest" and "associated" are replaced by "shown" and "proved" by later randomized clinical trials. Most observational studies turn out to be wrong. Sadly, sometimes it's all we have. In the case of Vitamin D, we have better. It's time to move on.
I know, I know, anecdotal, but my psa started rising (while on Lupron) shortly after I reduced my Vit D3 from 6000 IU to 4000 IU /day. Been too busy chasing other dragons to pursue this issue.
That's what I was told at MD Anderson who told me to cut back on it. I need to take some because my natural level is low and am on 1000 IU only. Balancing act.
the articles date is June 14, 2018 -- is that too old ???
I'll take the combined opinions of .... "the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and 20 other medical centers"..... Allen needs to contact them and let them all know they are wrong.
"A new study authored by scientists from the American Cancer Society, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and more than 20 other medical centers and organizations finds that higher circulating vitamin D concentrations are significantly associated with lower colorectal cancer risk. This study strengthens the evidence, previously considered inconclusive, for a protective relationship. Optimal vitamin D concentrations for colorectal cancer prevention may be higher than the current National Academy of Medicine recommendations, which are based only on bone health. The study appears online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "
Article title: Blood vitamin D levels linked to colorectal cancer risk
Date: June 14, 2018
Source: American Cancer Society
Summary:
A new study authored by scientists from more than 20 medical centers and organizations finds that higher circulating vitamin D concentrations are significantly associated with lower colorectal cancer risk.
---------
Article title: Greater levels of vitamin D associated with decreasing risk of breast cancer
Date: June 15, 2018
Source: University of California - San Diego
Summary:
Researchers suggest higher levels of vitamin D are associated with decreasing risk of breast cancer.
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
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Article title: Vitamin D protects against colds and flu, finds major global study
Date: February 16, 2017
Source: University of Queen Mary London
Summary:
Vitamin D supplements protect against acute respiratory infections including colds and flu, according to a study. The study provides the most robust evidence yet that vitamin D has benefits beyond bone and muscle health.
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
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Article title: Low vitamin D predicts aggressive prostate cancer
Low level of vitamin D at time of surgery is linked to potentially lethal cancer in men
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Metformin: Preliminary Results of Trial in Advanced Prostate Cancer (MANSMED)
Low PSA levels are associated with greater prostate cancer-specific mortality among men with a Gleason score of 8 to 10
