Unexpected Result May Help Prevent Cancer

Researchers at Creighton University, Omaha, NE, were shocked over results indicating that vitamin D lowers cancer risk in older woman by 60%. The Osteoporosis Research Center of Creighton University primarily designed the study to monitor the effects of calcium alone or calcium with 1000 international units of vitamin D3 on bone health. Cancer prevention was the minor goal.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin absorbed from UV rays of sunlight or from certain foods. It is needed to absorb calcium and maintain healthy bones. The recommended daily dosage is 200 to 600 international units per day depending on weight. Emerging research also suggests that vitamin D plays an important role in natural cell growth, something that goes wrong in cancer patients.
The results are deemed as a medical breakthrough by medical professionals who support higher daily amounts of Vitamin D. However, most believe it is too soon to recommend the use of vitamin D to prevent cancer.
The four year study included 1179 women above the age of 55. Each woman was randomly selected from nine counties near 41.4° latitude in rural Nebraska. They were divided into three undisclosed groups and given supplements: placebo or dummy pills were given to 288 women; 446 were given calcium alone; and 445 were given calcium plus vitamin D3. Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is a stronger version of vitamin D2 which is found in most multivitamins.
The results were surprising: those taking the calcium plus vitamin D supplements had a 60% lower risk thank those taking placebo. Twenty women, or 7%, taking placebo developed cancer while only thirteen, or 3%, of those taking calcium plus vitamin D developed cancer. Seventeen, or 4%, of the women taking calcium only developed cancer.