Vitamin d and its role in cancer and immunity: a prescription for sunlight.
Mullin GE, Dobs A.
Nutr Clin Pract. 2007 Jun;22(3):305-22. Review.
PMID: 17507731
(free full text PDF available)
The Nutrition and Prostate Cancer guide summarizes the "best of the best" data and information available in the research arena today, and is designed to help everyone affected by or at risk for prostate cancer understand how key nutritional strategies can
Antioxidants and Cancer III:
Quercetin
Davis W. Lamson, MS, ND, and Matthew S. Brignall, ND
Alternative Medicine Review ◆ Volume 5, Number 3 ◆ 2000. review
Th1/Th2 balance: the hypothesis, its limitations, and implications for health and disease.
Kidd P.
Altern Med Rev. 2003 Aug;8(3):223-46. Review.
PMID: 12946237
Th1 pathways typically produce activation of cytotoxic T
lymphocytes (Tc), NK cells, macrophages, and monocytes, all of
which can attack cancer cells and generally defend against tumors.
55 IFN-gamma and other Th1 cytokines are typically lower in
advanced cancer patients, while the Th2 marker IL-4 can be higher
or unchanged.56 Nodules of non-small cell lung cancer freshly
removed from patients expressed a marked imbalance toward Th2, as
did biopsy samples from basal cell carcinoma.57 In prostate cancer
patients IL-2 was low (Th1) and IL-10 high.58 IL-10 is a confirmed
Th1-suppressive cytokine, and heightened IL-10 is a common factor
in cancer.55
IL-10 has a variety of suppressive effects that include inhibiting
Th1 cytokine production, down-regulating APC and NK cell function,
and lowering overall T-cell proliferation.57 Especially under the
influence of IL-4 (Th2), tumor cells apparently up-regulate IL-10
that suppresses nearby killer cells. Tumor-derived IL-10 has been
documented in lymphoma, ovarian carcinoma, melanoma, neuroblastoma,
and renal cell and colon carcinoma.57 IL-12 is another cytokine
that can be up-regulated by Th1 activity and inhibited by Th2.59 A
low IL-12/IL-10 ratio was found in cervical cancer patients.55
Recent clinical studies suggest elevated IL-10 is predictive of a
poor prognosis. 57 With both IL-4 and IL-10 being proven inhibitors
of Th1 and promoters of Th2 activity, the recognized capability of
cancerous tissue to suppress immunity is readily rationalized.
Vitamin D: a D-Lightful health perspective.
Holick MF.
Nutr Rev. 2008 Oct;66(10 Suppl 2):S182-94. Review.
PMID: 18844847
DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00104.x
Sunlight provides most humans with their vitamin D requirement. Adequate vitamin D(3) by synthesis in the skin or from dietary and supplemental sources is essential for bone health throughout life. Vitamin D deficiency is defined as a 25(OH)D concentration 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L), and insufficiency as 21-29 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency has been linked to a wide variety of chronic diseases including common cancers, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the vitamin D deficiency pandemic. Guidelines for sensible sun exposure and supplemental vitamin D of 800-1000 IU/day are needed.
Current micronutrient recommendations in Europe: towards understanding their differences and similarities.
Doets EL, de Wit LS, Dhonukshe-Rutten RA, Cavelaars AE, Raats MM, Timotijevic L, Brzozowska A, Wijnhoven TM, Pavlovic M, Totland TH, Andersen LF, Ruprich J, Pijls LT, Ashwell M, Lambert JP, van 't Veer P, de Groot LC.
Eur J Nutr. 2008 Apr;47 Suppl 1:17-40.
PMID: 18427858
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-008-1003-5
Full text:
http://www.eurreca.org/downloadattachment/3199/1535/ejn%201003ov.pdf
Nutritional intervention with omega-3 Fatty acids in a case of\nmalignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lungs.
Pardini RS, Wilson D, Schiff S, Bajo SA, Pierce R.
Nutr Cancer. 2005;52(2):121-9.
PMID: 16201843
Diagnosis & Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 * 12:30pm - 6:00pm
Garren Auditorium, University of California, San Diego
Seminar Presentations
A multicountry ecologic study of risk and risk reduction factors for prostate cancer mortality.
Grant WB.
Eur Urol. 2004 Mar;45(3):271-9.
PMID: 15036670
CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), being an important risk factor for prostate cancer, with alcohol and calcium being less important risk factors, and with allium family vegetables, and, to a lesser extent, vitamin D being important risk reduction factors. These results should provide guidance for additional studies on dietary and environmental links to prostate cancer.
Vitamin D is safe when used in physiological doses (those used by Nature). Physiological doses are 3,000-5,000 IU/day, from all sources (sun, diet and supplements). Should hypercalcemia occur with such doses, it is due to vitamin D hypersensitivity syndrome, not vitamin D toxicity. Vitamin D hypersensitivity syndromes include conditions such as primary hyperparathyroidism, occult cancers (especially lymphoma) or granulomatous disease (especially sarcoidosis). In such cases, treatment of vitamin D deficiency should be done under the care of a knowledgeable physician. A serum 25(OH)D, serum 1,25(OH)D, PTH and SMA will lead the clinician in the right direction.
Cod liver oil, vitamin A toxicity, frequent respiratory infections, and the vitamin D deficiency epidemic.
Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Willett W, Zasloff M, Hathcock JN, White JH, Tanumihardjo SA, Larson-Meyer DE, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Lamberg-Allardt CJ, Lappe JM, Norman AW, Zittermann A, Whiting SJ, Grant WB, Hollis BW, Giovannucci E.
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2008 Nov;117(11):864-70. Review.
PMID: 19102134
Until we have better information on doses of vitamin D that will reliably provide adequate blood levels of
25(OH)D without toxicity, treatment of vitamin D deficiency in otherwise healthy children should be individualized
according to the numerous factors that affect 25(OH)D levels, such as body weight, percent body fat,
skin melanin, latitude, season of the year, and sun exposure.2 The doses of sunshine or oral vitamin D3 used
in healthy children should be designed to maintain 25(OH)D levels above 50 ng/mL. As a rule, in the absence
of significant sun exposure, we believe that most healthy children need about 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily
per 11 kg (25 lb) of body weight to obtain levels greater than 50 ng/mL. Some will need more, and others less.
In our opinion, children with chronic illnesses such as autism, diabetes, and/or frequent infections should be
supplemented with higher doses of sunshine or vitamin D3, doses adequate to maintain their 25(OH)D levels
in the mid-normal of the reference range (65 ng/mL) - and should be so supplemented year round. Otolaryngologists
treating children are in a good position to both diagnose and treat vitamin D deficiency.
Infant vitamin d supplementation and allergic conditions in adulthood: northern Finland birth cohort 1966.
Hyppönen E, Sovio U, Wjst M, Patel S, Pekkanen J, Hartikainen AL, Järvelinb MR.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1037:84-95.
PMID: 15699498
Content and distribution of flavonoids among 91 edible plant species.
Yang RY, Lin S, Kuo G.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:275-9.
PMID: 18296355
Vitamin D: the alternative hypothesis.
Albert PJ, Proal AD, Marshall TG.
Autoimmun Rev. 2009 Jul;8(8):639-44. Epub 2009 Feb 12. Review.
PMID: 19393200
Emerging molecular evidence suggests that symptomatic improvements among those administered vitamin D is the result of 25-D's ability to temper bacterial-induced inflammation by slowing VDR activity. While this results in short-term palliation, persistent pathogens that may influence disease progression, proliferate over the long-term.
Obesity and Vitamin D
One third of Americans are obese. While much of that epidemic is surely due to playing Nintendo instead of baseball, or the consumption of soft drinks instead of water, does that explain
it all? Is it a coincidence that the twin epidemics of obesity and vitamin D deficiency are occurring together?