[aruanan]

It would be tragic, but hardly surprising, if we found out clinically that even skin cancer was boosted by low vitamin D levels....

Or that changes in the body's metabolism and cell-signaling mechanisms induced by cancer result in low vitamin D levels--one such thing could be that vitamin D in the body is synthesized from cholesterol and a rapid proliferation of cancer cells requires cholesterol, thus depleting a substrate for vitamin D synthesis; another could be that since vitamin D is required for various nuclear hormone receptors having to do with cell growth and differentiation, the reduction of vitamin D could come from an increased use of it by rapidly proliferating cancer cells or from an attempt by the body to fight the rapid proliferation by reducing the amounts of vitamin D available for tumor proliferation.

On the other hand, it has been found to interfere with receptor tyrosine kinases, to inhibit cell proliferation, angiogenesis (absolutely required for tumor progression), as well as to facilitate cell differentiation (the loss of which sometimes results in cancer) and apoptosis (a way the cell kills itself when something goes awry).

[Magic Fingers]

Based in most of the research I’ve seen I lean toward “on the other hand”.

[luckystarmom]

My husband was just diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. He’s been a vegan for the past few years, and his cholesterol is very low. I think that his vitamin D levels may be low. He doesn’t get outside enough, and we live in N. California.

My daughter is low on vitamin D due to anti-seizure medication. It’s been difficult to get her levels up to normal. Low vitamin D causes all sorts of problems.

[luckystarmom]

My husband was just diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. He’s been a vegan for the past few years, and his cholesterol is very low. I think that his vitamin D levels may be low. He doesn’t get outside enough, and we live in N. California.

My daughter is low on vitamin D due to anti-seizure medication. It’s been difficult to get her levels up to normal. Low vitamin D causes all sorts of problems.