Hi Folks,
My father has been diagnosed recently with advanced prostrate cancer.
He has undergone Orichtectomy and right now going through chemo cycles..
In this forum I have continuously seen people mentioning using Vitamin D as supplement..
Please let me know how it is beneficial and what are the side effects.
Thank you
Rahul
Desperate people grasp at straws. The best evidence is that it does nothing for prostate cancer, but I think there is some psychological benefit in doing something. Taking too much weakens bones, but taking 400 iu/day only decreases BMD by 1%.
Cancer patients loose vitamin D3, so a supplement is in order. I have been taking 1000 i.u.' s daily and have been doing so for the last 20 years.
My oncologist prefers that I get most of my vitamins and minerals from natural sources, such as food. However, he suggested I continue my vitamin D-3 supplement because I spend a lot of time indoors where I live. Taking vitamin D-3 has nothing to do with prostate cancer.
It is unknown exactly what vitamin D does or does not do that MIGHT benefit men with PC, but so far as the human body is concerned it is clear that increasing levels of D does not do "nothing" if one is starting with a lower D status (which is not necessarily deficiency or insufficiency).
There are changes in gene expression and signaling pathways that take place with D3 supplementation in many men, and apparently more-so in African Americans (probably because of both genetic differences and the lesser ability of sunlight to produce sufficient D levels in darker-skinned people):sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
"African-American and European-American men with prostate cancer exhibit significantly different expression of genes associated with immune response and inflammation. Systems-level, RNA analyses support the concept that inflammatory processes may contribute to racial disparities in disease progression and that vitamin D3 supplementation can modulate pro-inflammatory transcripts."
"Prostate cells express the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Vitamin D suppresses the expression of [a] key enzyme for the synthesis of prostaglandins, mediators of inflammation... there is evidence that [D3] decreases the levels of the angiogenic and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in prostate cancer cells. [There are] many molecular pathways and mechanisms affected by vitamin D."
So it may be that taking D3 has no benefit at all for most men with PC, or it may be that it has significant benefit only for men with very low D status or of a certain genetic profile. Many researchers suspect that increasing D status (to high but non-toxic levels) will be beneficial for some men in ways that are not necessarily directly related to PC.
Many men prefer levels being on the higher side of what's considered "normal" rather than the lower side. If that makes sense to you, check D levels and supplement accordingly. There is little to suggest that modest supplementation (1000-2000 IU daily) poses a real health threat for individuals not checking blood levels, but very high doses can lead to hyperclacemia.
First, he needs to have his vitamin D measured. [25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)2D].
Under 20 ng/mL is deficiency. 20-32 is insufficiency. 50-70 would be a good target IMO. (others might have slightly different numbers)
Cholecalciferol vitamin D is the supplement to look for. Preferably in an oil base. Should be taken with a meal that has fat.
Some here are biased against supplements, but higher levels are associated with survival in men with aggressive PCa:
[1] Australia (2020):
"Plasma 1,25(OH)2D was inversely associated with all-cause mortality (HR for highest relative to lowest quartile = 0·45 ...), and PC-specific mortality (HR = 0·40 ...). These associations were apparent only in men with aggressive PC: all-cause mortality HR = 0·28 ... and PC-specific mortality HR = 0·26 ..."
1,25(OH)2D is 1,25 hydroxy vitamin D - the hormonal form. While the "25" level is very important, "1,25" is the active form. Values go up & down during the day due to the kidneys efforts to maintain calcium level in the blood. Calcium supplements can suppress 1,25-D whilst fructose can increase levels.
[2] Meta-Analysis (2018)
"Seven eligible cohort studies with 7808 participants were included. The results indicated that higher vitamin D level could reduce the risk of death among prostate cancer patients. The summary HR of prostate cancer-specific mortality correlated with an increment of every 20 nmol/L in circulating vitamin D level was 0.91, ..."
i.e. a 9% risk reduction for each 20 nmol/L {8 mg/mL} increase.
[3] ATBC study (2016)
"Men with higher serum 25(OH)D were less likely to die from their prostate cancer (Q5 vs. Q1 HR, 0.72 ...). This finding was independent of stage or grade at diagnosis and appeared restricted to men who survived longer (survived <3.3 years: Q5 vs. Q1 HR, 0.95 ..; survived ≥3.3 years: Q5 vs. Q1 HR, 0.53 ...)."
-Patrick
[1] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/323...
[2] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/303...
[3] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/268...
Patrick, perhaps you can help with this... I have read that circulating calcitriol increases when dietary calcium is low, and it decreases when dietary calcium is abundant. Is this independent of one's intake of cholecalciferol? I have also read elsewhere that levels of serum calcium can be inversely correlated to dietary levels, which makes no sense to me.
Does this mean if we supplement high levels of calcium along with D3 that the calcium impacts the conversion of cholecalciferol into active calcitriol? Do you have any insight into the feedback mechanisms that might be occurring when people take in 1) only lots of calcium, 2) only lots of D3, or 3) lots of both?
Cholecalciferol is converted to calcidiol (25-D) & is added to the circulating reservoir.
The mechanism that is responsible for calcium homeostasis is independant of calcidiol levels.
When calcium in the blood dips below a very narrow range, the parathyroid glands secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH is a signal to the kidneys to convert a little of the calcidiol reservoir to calcitriol (1,25-D). PTH is cleared in minutes.
Calcitriol is a hormone that does two things: (i) it tells bone to release calcium into the blood, and (ii) it tells the intestines to take up calcium to will repay the debt to bone.
You "have read that circulating calcitriol increases when dietary calcium is low, and it decreases when dietary calcium is abundant." Diet isn't the driver of the mechanism.
Calcitonin has the opposite effect to PTH. It is secreted by cells in the thyroid when calcium levels go above the narrow range. It doesn't happen very often in healthy people. It's rarely discussed in the context of homeostasis.
Although calcitonin tells the kidneys to ditch calcium, the kidneys become insensitive to it. Excess calcium can lead to arterial calcification.
Vitamin D is cast as the villain when calcium is elevated [Hypervitaminosis D]. However, calcium is taken up from the intestines because of calcitriol, which does not depend on vitamin D intake. The problem is that the calcium is not getting to bone. This could be due to lack of vitamin K, & maybe because estradiol levels are too low.
Is it true that "serum calcium can be inversely correlated to dietary levels"?
When dietary calcium is adequate, blood levels will be in the normal range. (A dip is quickly fixed.) Excess serum calcium comes either from bone or the intestines. Can inadequate intake cause that? The bones will be the loser if intake is inadequate, but it is hardly likely to donate excess amounts. And if the diet contains generous amounts, I don't see how that would depress blood levels.
There are other factors in play here. As I have written before, phosphorous/phosphates can depress calcitriol production and fructose can extend it.
What happens when we take in lots of calcium? Mostly, it is excreted. Do we need to take 2,000 mg per day, as some do? As described above, calcium gets into blood via the gut when calcitriol is present. {Note: PCa cells have down-regulation of the enzyme that converts calcidiol to calcitriol, and we must rely on kidney production. Many studies have used calcitriol or analogs on patients, but dangerous levels of calcium are often brought into the blood. Calcitriol can be useful if applied sparingly.} Old PCa studies have associated calcium intakes of 2,000 mg with aggressive disease. The theory is that inhibition of calcitriol is the problem. Seemingly, some excess calcium - independent of calcitriol - is moving to blood, if that is the reason.
What happens when we take lots of vitamin D? The Calcidiol reservoir will rise. This is a neutral event. However, with vitamin K deficiency, when the reservoir rises from deficiency to adequacy, calcium may increase in the blood. i.e. it seems to be due to a change of vitamin D status, rather than the amount taken in.
I do not use a calcium supplement. I don't eat/drink dairy except a little cheese occasionally. I don't eat greens regularly (our main natural source of calcium (& vitamin K)). & yet a spine doctor recently told me that my spine was in very good codition for my age (except for a few mets - LOL). How did our hunter-gatherers get their calcium? IMO we need very little calcium in the diet. The kidneys filter out nearly all the calcium they receive & sends it back into the blood. Assuming that calcium homeostasis is working & that the debt to bone is being repaid, most diets supply the gram of calcium that we need each day.
Isn't it strange that osteoporosis generally occurs because of hormone changes (menopause / ADT) & that doctors assume that dietary calcium is inadequate? The implication to me is that most healthy adults,, with their vast array of dietary choices, seem to have strong bones without the help of supplements.
-Patrick
Excellent exposition of the physiology Patrick. A++ 👏👏👏👏👏
Nice references. Points out that Vitamin D and its metabolites are hormonal: they act on specific receptors and have a variety of regulatory physiological effects, not exclusively limited to bone and kidney calcium regulation. Worth keeping in mind.
Long before I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, I following the work of Weston A. Price, made sure I had adequate supplies of fat soluble vitamins A, D, and K2.
This included 5000 u D orally in winter and sunbathing in good weather to keep my levels above 40.
I even bought in 2013 a Sperta lamp for
Vit D in winter.
Kerrygold butter is excellent for K2.
Beef tongue for A. Now I changed to Beef Liver and Icelandic Cod Liver in cans for A.
This has turbocharged my immune system since before I adapted this I would get 3-4 respiratory infections a year, but since 2013 only the flu once and a single sore throat.
And no bronchitis or sinusitis which would follow earlier infections.
Authors Denise Minger , Nina Teicholz and Chris Knobbe M.D. all admire Dr Price, among many others. Also Chris Masterjohn.
I would advice a visit to the web site of the WestonA Price foundation.
These things are for general health which will help fight all illness.
I too have found I rarely if ever get a cold, two years after starting 5k D3 per day. Prior to that, multiple colds every winter, and at least one or two "off-season" in spring, summer or fall. There is no other dietary or supplementary factor that I have done nearly as continuously, and it seems odd to think the D3 has no role and this change in life-long trend towards repeat annual illness would happen by mere coincidence at this stage of my life.
Nalakrats-
If you have actual evidence from a definitive clinical trial published in an acknowledged peer-reviewed journal, I am very interested. If this is just more conjecture on your part, how does that provide a basis for proof? I can pull contrary ideas from the air as easily as you can. Some of us actually are committed to science.
I wish you and Patrick actually took the time to understand "levels of evidence." It could put an end to the constant misinforming of patients that you guys are unintentionally guilty of. "Thousands of pubmed" studies do not come up to the level of evidence of the trials I cited. Remember, 1000 x 0 = 0
Your cancer doctors are definitely in conflict with my cancer doctors. But then, I don't consider Naturopaths or Shamans to be doctors.
My Naturalpathic Oncologist Dr Uzick told me that most people are d deficient . Even a well tanned person. He tested me and I was low. I take a few d-3 drops per day. Inexpensive and good for bones. Taken with K- 2
I agree. I am prone to upper resp. infections and think it helps. Dr. Fauci does too.
stage 4 prostrate cancer 
Prostrate or lung cancer? 
prostrate cancer growth 
Dr. John Campbell on Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer.
