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An intervention that costs about $10 a year can reduce the risk of cancer by one-third or more…? Why aren’t we doing anything about it now?! He explains in this video.

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Video Summary

• Brief review of the current recommendations for vitamin D and how they were set
• The IOM set the target vitamin D level at 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L); the Endocrine Society disagreed and set their target at 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L)
• Review of the data used to assess bone health when determining the recommended serum levels, intake, and the mathematical mistakes made
• Fear from harm at the upper levels due to potential ‘J’ Curve and the “dread of danger overshadowing potential benefits”
• Where do we actually see toxicity from vitamin D? Explained…

It’s time! Dr. Lappe’s first study in 2007 showed over 65% cancer prevention at that time. That was sixteen years ago!

The First Randomized Controlled Trial on Vitamin D & Cancer

In 2007, Lappe et al. published Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial with results from a four year, population-based, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, and data from 1179 healthy postmenopausal women, aged 55 or older. The primary outcome was the reduction of fractures, and the secondary outcome was cancer incidence. The population was white, lived around 41 degrees latitude, and had an average vitamin D level of 29 ng/ml (72 nmol/L). The treatment group took 1100 IU vitamin D and 1400-1500 mg calcium daily. A second group received calcium and a placebo for vitamin D and a third group that received only placebo – no active supplements at all.

For those diagnosed with cancer after the first year, there was a 77% lower risk of cancer in the vitamin D and calcium group than placebo alone (P value <0.005). This group had an average vitamin D serum level of 38 ng/ml (96 nmol/L). This was the first intervention trial that showed that vitamin D can reduce cancer incidence. Unfortunately, since it was not the primary outcome many people in the research community discounted the cancer results of this study.

Lappe replicated her 2007 study with a larger population of 2303 women over a 4 year period using a larger vitamin D dose (2000 IU/day vs 1100 IU/day) with cancer incidence as the primary study endpoint. This new group started with an average vitamin D level of 33 ng/ml (82 nmol/L). Results were published as Effect of Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation on Cancer Incidence in Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial in 2017.

When analyzed by treatment group it showed a 30% reduction. When analyzed by serum level, the data showed that participants with a vitamin D level of 55 ng/ml were 35% less likely to get cancer as compared to those with a vitamin D level of 30 ng/ml (P value = 0.03).

In April 2016, GrassrootsHealth partnered with leading vitamin D and cancer researchers Dr’s Garland, Gorham, Heaney and Lappe to publish Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations ≥40 ng/ml Are Associated with >65% Lower Cancer Risk: Pooled Analysis of Randomized Trial and Prospective Cohort Study, a paper focused on achieved vitamin D serum levels and cancer incidence. Data was combined for women 55 and older from our GrassrootsHealth cohort (N = 1,135, median serum level = 48 ng/ml) and the cohort of a previously published randomized controlled trial (RCT) of vitamin D and calcium supplementation with respect to cancer (Lappe RCT paper; N= 1,169, median serum level = 30 ng/ml). The pooled cohort was analyzed to investigate cancer incidence over time (median = 3.9 years) for all invasive cancers combined, excluding skin cancer.

Take Action Today and Measure Your Levels of the Above – While Contributing to Vitamin D & Breast Cancer Research!

Based on findings from published studies, measuring your levels of vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, and omega-3s may help determine if more of these nutrients might be needed to provide the greatest risk reduction for breast cancer and improve outcomes in the case of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Create your custom home blood spot kit with the following measurements to help determine if you are getting enough of the following nutrients shown to benefit your current or future breast health:

• Vitamin D
• Omega-3 Index
• Magnesium PLUS Elements
• Add hsCRP as a marker of inflammation

Did you know that everyone responds differently to vitamin D supplement amounts - by up to 6 times!?

Your health could be greatly affected by making sure you have a vitamin D level of at least 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L). Don't get stuck with low vitamin D levels - learn more about what might affect your level and response to supplementation, and the steps to take through each season to keep levels in your target range.

Carole Baggerly

Founder

Jen Aliano

Director