Higher vitamin D levels are linked to increased cancer survival rates by 52%

(NaturalHealth365) Cancer rates are more staggering than ever before, with an estimated 1 in 3 Americans likely to be affected. In some countries such as Great Britain, the rate is at 50 percent – half the British population is expected to get cancer at some point in their lives. However, an analysis published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism offers some clues about the risks as well as some solutions that can increase cancer survival rates and recovery dramatically.

This overview of past trials demonstrates that persons with cancers including colorectal, lymphoma and breast experienced dramatically reduced mortality rates if they had optimal serum vitamin D levels versus those with less than ideal levels measured at their diagnosis. This conclusion was based upon an analysis of 25 studies involving 17,332 individual cancer cases.

Vitamin D linked to increased cancer survival rates

The study compared those in the lowest 25 percent in terms of vitamin D levels with those in the highest quartile. It was found that a higher level of vitamin D correlated with a far better likelihood of survival and recovery. The decreases in risk of dying from cancer were as follows for specific cancer types:

• 52% decreased risk for lymphoma
• 45% decreased risk for colorectal cancer
• 37% decreased risk for breast cancer

Researchers concluded that vitamin D levels are connected with a better chance of survival for at least several major cancer types. The data may point to vitamin D playing a role in recovery and survival for other cancer types as well; however, more studies will be required to verify the effects of vitamin D levels for other specific cancer types. At this time, the strongest links were to lymphoma, colorectal cancer and breast cancer.

Sunshine, supplements and diet can fix a lack of vitamin D

The meta-analysis from this research showed a 4 percent reduction in death rates for every 4 ng/mL increase in vitamin D levels. While optimal serum levels of vitamin D are in the range of 50 to 80 ng/mL, typical vitamin D levels in people who do not take a supplement tend to be below 13 ng/mL.

Increasing vitamin D intake with a supplement totaling 5,000 to 8,000 IU per day is often effective in reaching the optimal levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream. Getting a daily dose of sunshine is also effective in raising vitamin D levels and could explain why cancer rates are so high in Britain, where the climate tends to be cloudy and rainy much of the year.

Foods that can assist in increasing vitamin D levels include oily fish, fish oil, mushrooms, eggs, dairy and tofu. Check with your doctor to see if you are suffering from a lack of vitamin D, and take positive action if you are. Your life could depend on it.

References:

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-31096218

http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2013-4320

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2016/2/in-the-news/page-01