A recent press release by The Vitamin D Society based in Toronto reports on a research study that claims higher doses of vitamin D can prevent cancer. As published in the journal PLOS ONE and authored by a team from Creighton University, University of California, San Diego and GrassrootsHealth, researchers found a 67 per cent reduction in risk for all cancers in women with vitamin D levels > 100 nmol/L (40 ng/ml) compared to women with vitamin D levels < 50 nmol/L (20 ng/ml). In international units, this translates to greater than 4000 IU vitamin D levels for a 67 per cent reduction in risk compared to women with levels of 2000 IU vitamin D. The resulting conclusion was that women with higher than 100 nmol/L (40 ng/ml) vitamin D (4000 IU) levels, were associated with substantial reduction in risk of all invasive cancers combined. To obtain 4000 IU of vitamin D daily in winter months, most Canadians will take supplements to reach this large of a dose. It remains to be seen if government (Health Canada or U.S. FDA) will back the increasing evidence of scientific studies calling for higher doses of vitamin D. Currently Health Canada’s Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is just 800 IU for adults with 4000 IU being the Tolerable Upper Intake Level. These levels are based on vitamin D for skeletal health only. Dr. Reinhold Vieth, scientific advisor for the Vitamin D Society and professor at the University of Toronto, is encouraged by the results. “This analysis provides more evidence that vitamin D plays an important role for cancer, and not just bone health,” said Dr. Vieth. “More vitamin D, or more sunshine, is related to lower [chances of developing] cancer, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis or death. Fortunately, taking advantage of the health benefits of vitamin D couldn’t be easier as it comes for free with spending time in the sun.”
