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New model suggests role of low vitamin D in cancer development
University of California - San Diego ^ | May 22, 2009 | Unknown

Posted on 05/22/2009 3:00:48 AM PDT by decimon

In studying the preventive effects of vitamin D, researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, have proposed a new model of cancer development that hinges on a loss of cancer cells' ability to stick together. The model, dubbed DINOMIT, differs substantially from the current model of cancer development, which suggests genetic mutations as the earliest driving forces behind cancer.

"The first event in cancer is loss of communication among cells due to, among other things, low vitamin D and calcium levels," said epidemiologist Cedric Garland, DrPH, professor of family and preventive medicine at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, who led the work. "In this new model, we propose that this loss may play a key role in cancer by disrupting the communication between cells that is essential to healthy cell turnover, allowing more aggressive cancer cells to take over."

Reporting online May 22, 2009 in the Annals of Epidemiology, Garland suggests that such cellular disruption could account for the earliest stages of many cancers. He said that previous theories linking vitamin D to certain cancers have been tested and confirmed in more than 200 epidemiological studies, and understanding of its physiological basis stems from more than 2,500 laboratory studies.

"Competition and natural selection among disjoined cells within a tissue compartment, such as might occur in the breast's terminal ductal lobular unit, for example, are the engine of cancer," Garland said. "The DINOMIT model provides new avenues for preventing and improving the success of cancer treatment."

Garland went on to explain that each letter in DINOMIT stands for a different phase of cancer development. "D" stands for disjunction, or loss of intercellular communication; "I," for initiation, where genetic mutations begin to play a role; "N" for natural selection of the fastest-reproducing cancer cells; "O" for overgrowth of cells; "M" for metastasis, when cancer cells migrate to other tissues, where cancer can kill; "I" refers to involution, and "T" for transition, both dormant states that may occur in cancer and potentially be driven by replacing vitamin D.

While there is not yet definitive scientific proof, Garland suggests that much of the evolutionary process in cancer could be arrested at the outset by maintaining vitamin D adequacy. "Vitamin D may halt the first stage of the cancer process by re-establishing intercellular junctions in malignancies having an intact vitamin D receptor," he said.

According to Garland, other scientists have found that the cells adhere to one another in tissue with adequate vitamin D, acting as mature epithelial cells. Without enough vitamin D, they may lose this stickiness along with their identity as differentiated cells, and revert to a stem cell-like state.

Garland said that diet and supplements can restore appropriate vitamin D levels, and perhaps help in preventing cancer development. "Vitamin D levels can be increased by modest supplementation with vitamin D3 in the range of 2000 IU/day," he noted.

The researchers noted that many studies show an apparent beneficial effect of vitamin D and calcium on cancer risk and survival of patients with breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. However, there are some studies that have not found such benefit, especially when taking smoking, alcohol and viruses into account. While more research needs to be done, Garland recommends that individuals should have their vitamin D level tested during an annual check up.

Garland and his colleagues have published epidemiological studies about the potential preventive effects of vitamin D for some two decades. Last year, his team showed an association between deficiency in sunlight exposure, low vitamin D and breast cancer. In previous work, they showed associations between increased levels of vitamin D3 or markers of vitamin D and a lower risk for breast, colon, ovarian and kidney cancers.

###

Other authors on the study include Edward D. Gorham, Sharif B. Mohr and Frank C. Garland, UC San Diego.

The Moores UCSD Cancer Center is one of the nation's 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, combining research, clinical care and community outreach to advance the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer. For more information, visit http://health.ucsd.edu/cancer


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: calcium
"Vitamin D levels can be increased by modest supplementation with vitamin D3 in the range of 2000 IU/day," he noted.
1 posted on 05/22/2009 3:00:48 AM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon

Sunshine and milk!!


2 posted on 05/22/2009 3:20:29 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Sacajaweau

I live in Florida, drink milk everyday, plus I was taking a calcium plus vitamin D supplement everyday...still had really low vitamin D. So MD put me on 50,000 units per week for a couple months, and now I take 2000 units per day.


3 posted on 05/22/2009 3:30:16 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: decimon

bump


4 posted on 05/22/2009 3:45:25 AM PDT by dangerdoc (dangerdoc (not actually dangerous any more))
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To: decimon

So, slathering up with sun screen will cause cancer. Your body can’t make vitamin D without sunshine on your skin.


5 posted on 05/22/2009 4:00:38 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (To stand up for Capitalism is to hope Teleprompter Boy fails.)
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To: BuffaloJack

My hormone doctor says Vitamin D is the most important vitamin to take. He also tells his patients to lay off the sunscreen if exposure is less than 45 minutes. He recommends a traditional zinc oxide barrier due to the estrogen effects of the new generation of sunscreens.


6 posted on 05/22/2009 4:46:15 AM PDT by Aggie Mama
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To: Sacajaweau

the Vitamin D in milk is trivial. The article says 2000 units per day.

Sunshine will do the job, but the problem is it needs to be every day. From November till say March and periods of low sun or cold there is no or inadequate vitamin production


7 posted on 05/22/2009 5:06:27 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Crucify ! Crucify ! Crucify him!!)
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To: BuffaloJack

You got it. There is a difference is getting sun and burning to a crisp.


8 posted on 05/22/2009 5:07:31 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Crucify ! Crucify ! Crucify him!!)
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To: All

Dr. Garland’s paper also indicates a 75% reduction in the mortality rates of breast and colon cancer with a 40-60 ng/ml level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. An interview with him on this topic is at www.grassrootshealth.net


9 posted on 05/23/2009 11:34:53 AM PDT by Daction
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To: decimon
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that all the scaremongering about sun exposure is tragically exposing people to a higher risk of cancer (and other health problems associated with lack of vitamin D).

There is irony here in that for many years, the conventional wisdom dictated that the opposite was true: That you would risk cancer by exposing yourself to the sun. Some people are so fearful of the sun as a result of these scare tactics that they slather on sunscreen even on cloudy days!

Now obviously nobody is advocating that it is okay to lie out in the sun all day and burn your body to a crisp. But it is unnecessary for most people to use sunscreen when they are outdoors engaging in normal activity. In fact, the only time I ever use sunscreen is when I'm spending a day at the beach.

I eat at least one and usually 2-3 eight oz. containers of yogurt a day. This also is very healthy for you and helps to keep the weight down.

10 posted on 05/23/2009 11:48:20 AM PDT by SamAdams76 (I am 79 Days Away from Outliving David Bowie's guitarist (Mick Ronson))
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To: SamAdams76

It’s amazing how much play the health benefits of vitamin D has received. And here it’s said a “modest supplement” is 2000 IUs per day.


11 posted on 05/23/2009 12:06:42 PM PDT by decimon
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