Vitamin D Linked to Survival in Lymphoma Patients: strongest findings yet

[snagglepuss]

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The levels of vitamin D in patients with a type of lymphoma appear to be connected to cancer progression and the likelihood of survival, researchers have found.

"These are some of the strongest findings yet between vitamin D and cancer outcome," said lead investigator Dr. Matthew Drake, an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

snip

The study authors looked at 374 patients who had been newly diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Tests suggested that half of the patients didn't have enough vitamin D in their systems, and those patients had a 1.5-fold greater risk of disease progression.

snip

The exact roles that vitamin D might play in the initiation or progression of cancer is unknown, but we do know that the vitamin plays a role in regulation of cell growth and death, among other processes important in limiting cancer," Drake said.



So get your vitamin D level tested and make sure you and loved ones aren't deficient.



http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2009/12/09/vitamin-d-linked-to-survival-in-lymphoma-patients.html

[kestrel91316]

1. Get more sun.

[snagglepuss]

2. Wrong. Elderly cannot adequately manufacture enough Vit D via skin and

dark skinned people living in Northern countries will also be deficient. And if you think whites get enough without supplements then you just go ahead aqnd keep doing what you are doing but there's enough science to prove otherwise. Vitamin D scientists across the board take supplements and these scientists from American and Canadian universities have formed a Consortium to educate people about Vitamin D and they recommend 2000 IU daily.

There need not be any argument because Vitamin D tests are cheap and as I stated in the OP everyone should have their levels tested to ensure their levels are adequate.

[shraby]

3. More sun leads to skin cancer. Also in this day and age

most people work indoors, come from and go to work/school in vehicles. In the summer in the south it's too hot to be out in the sun, in the north in the winter I don't think the sun even shines..I don't see it much here in Wisconsin. If vitamin D helps and it's showing more and more how useful it is, what does it hurt to take supplements? My doctor told me to take two a day of 1,000 i.u. each. My level was 25 and should be 100.

[emilyg]

4. Can't. Had skin cancer. I'd rather

pop a pill.

[safeinOhio]

5. Can't say much about cancer, but

my mood has improved 100% after I began taking 6,000 units of D3 every day.

[xfundy]

6. On doctors' advice?

Did you have a mood disorder prior to taking it? Melatonin helped me a lot, but if Vitamin D will help too, I want it.

[safeinOhio]

7. My doctor always tells me to research on the net.

Google "vitamin D3". I have suffered from mild depression for 30 years. I have used melatonin to sleep. I've been taking the D3 for about 6 months now and have notice a big difference. I also quit smoking 3 months ago and didn't get the normal crankyness I usually get from withdrawal. You can overdose, but that is rare. According to one doctor, if you are aware of the symptoms, you can cut back a small amount until they go away.