Women with breast cancer are twice as likely to have a fault in the gene required to make use of vitamin D. Experts already believe vitamin D protects against breast cancer and in some forms may even be used to shrink existing tumors.
Now research in London suggests that women with genetic variations (polymorphisms) of the vitamin D receptor gene may be less able to benefit from this protective effect.
Researchers said the study added to the increasing evidence for a role of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in the cancer disease process.
While vitamin D and its analogues are being developed as preventative and/or treatment agents in breast cancer, the assessment of vitamin D receptor polymorphisms may be vital in the identification of at-risk groups and strategies for targeting and intervention.
She stressed that a screening test was not worthwhile in the present state of knowledge and that women should not suddenly start taking lots of vitamin D tablets.
There has been a great deal of research into vitamin D and its effects on cancer, and some potential new cancer treatments are based on vitamin D. This study is very important because it may help us identify more women who are at risk from breast cancer and gives us more clues on how to treat them.
British Journal of Cancer 2001;85:171-175
It may not be superficially obvious, but this study strongly supports the need for sunshine to prevent cancers, particularly breast cancer. Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin, but a steroid hormone precursor that is primarily formed when our skin is exposed to sunshine.
Women who limit their exposure to sunshine will have lower vitamin D levels and an increased risk of breast cancer, in addition to an increased risk of osteoporosis.
This can be partially compensated for by taking natural vitamin D. The best source I know of is Carlson's lemon-flavored cod liver oil.
This is not the oil your grandmother gave you and caused you to grimace. This actually tastes like lemon melted butter and provides not only vitamin D but also vitamin A and the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA.
Today, I am writing this comment on the first frost of the new season. This means that most of us in the United States will have progressively decreasing exposure to sunlight on our skin until April next year, so now is the time to start taking the cod liver oil.
Breast feeding moms should also be aware that vitamin D may be the only supplement that their babies will require. Again, this is related to the fact that vitamin D is not really a vitamin but something that we normally get from exposure to sunshine, not food. Cod liver oil is one of the few food sources that will provide it. Not only will it provide vitamin D for infants but the balanced DHA has been repeatedly shown to enhance brain and neurological development.
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