The Vitamin D Paradox blog post…. was a blog post that strictly gave links, hopefully, that showed the difference between natural and supplementary forms of the vitamin. The reasons “why” when supplementing with vitamin D which supposely being a fat soluble vitamin it’s toxic. While the latter being natural it is absorb more slowly…. so one doesn’t have to be cautious with the natural form of the vitamin.
What this blog post will attempt to do in the “short story” and it’s links is tell “why” vitamin D fights cancer and helps prevent someone from getting cancer. Ecologic studies, comparing people in areas of high versus low sun exposure; suggest that it can “if” the blood levels are higher then usual. Also studies show those with lower body fat from diet and exercise are also likely to have higher levels of vitamins.
However the understanding to the “why” behind this is misunderstood. It could be that the vitamin is fat soluble, or it could be because of what they eat or how long they exercise and if they see more sunlight because of it. Another explanation might be because being fat soluble and your obese is that the vitamin might be stored in fat cells, tissue and simply can’t be absorb into the blood stream.
What we do know is that vitamin D is strongly associated with decreased cancer risk. Harvard researchers have estimated that if raising blood levels of vitamin D would rise on average 10ng/ml (a small amount.) It would it could save 85,000 men & women yearly from cancer death. By visiting a physician, or through mail order test… you can have your vitamin D levels tested to ascertain that you have high enough levels (50 to 80 ng.ml.)
People who live above the 37 degree latitude are considered especially at risk. This includes the Northern United States and Canada because levels of this important vitamin in the winter are not enough. Other studies show judging from their data, if Americans were able to maintain vitamin D levels. An estimated 60,ooo cases of colon cancer, and 85,ooo cases of breast cancer and other types could be prevented annually.
Some study authors recommend adults get 2ooo IU (international units) if vitamin D per day. That’s about 5o micrograms…. which is the tolerable upper intake level set by the U.S.D.A. Whereas a cup of vitamin D enriched milk has about 2.5 micrograms and most people average between 5 to 10 micrograms.
Since summer sun exposure creates about 20,ooo IU of vitamin D through skin exposure in just 15minutes to 1/2 hour while some doctors will tell you it takes a 1/2 day to get that amount depending on skin tone. Evidence indicates the synthesis of vitamin D…. from sunlight works in a feedback loop that prevents toxicity, however, because of uncertainity about cancer risk from sunlight “no” recommendations are issued by the Institute of Medicine.
The science behind vitamin D effect on cancer, therefore, can be summed up in the liver where vitamin D is converted. Calcidiol the specific vitamin D metabolite that is measured to determine a person’s vitamin D level. Part of the calcidiol is converted by the kidneys to calcitriol which is the biological active form of vitamin D. Both forms calcidiol and calcitriol were indentified by Michael F. Holick.
Calcitriol circulates as a hormone in the blood, while regulating the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the blood stream and promoting the healthy growth and remodeling of bones. Calcidiol, is also converted to calcitriol outside the kidneys for other purposes, such as, the proliferation, differentation and apoptosis of cells. While calcitriol affects neuromuscular function and inflammation.
HOT TIP #15 for July: Vitamin D is essential and important for many a health reason. Therefore, especially as we… AGE… become more shut-in it’s still vitally important to stay active while getting at least 1/2 hour of the fabulous healing power of sunlight each day.