Increased intake of vitamin D may Reduce Cancer Risk

According to HealthDay News study on 27 February notes that more vitamin D than previously thought to dramatically reduce the risk of several serious diseases, including breast cancer. "We found that adults need to consume daily between 4.000 and 8.000 IU to maintain blood levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce the risk of several diseases such as breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and diabetes Type 1, in the middle, "said study co-author Dr. Cedric Garland, professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of California at San Diego, in a press release from the university. Garland admitted he was surprised that the required levels were much higher than 400 IU a day needed to overcome rickets in the twentieth century. Vitamin D supplements often come in pills or capsules containing between 1,000 and 2,000 international units. But taking between 4,000 and 8,000 IU per day is still much lower than the range considered safe by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, the researchers said. The study, which also involved the faculty of medicine at Creighton University in Omaha, was based on a survey of several thousand people who took supplements ranging from 1.000 to 10.000 IU per day. The volunteers also underwent blood tests to determine levels of vitamin D metabolites circulating in the blood. Some studies suggest that only 10 percent of the U.S. population has the appropriate level as related to vitamin D in the blood that prevents disease associated with a deficiency of this vitamin. They tend to work outside, so their vitamin D levels increase with sun exposure. Last year, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) announced to take 4.000 IU daily of vitamin D appears safe for adults and children ages 9 and older. However, the daily minimum level recommended by the IOM is 600 IU, the Institute also noted that there were early signs that there might be some harm associated with consuming high levels of vitamin D a day, even in amounts below the recommended upper limit as insurance. Garland and his colleagues suggested that 4,000 IU per day is a safe level. "Now that we have the results of this study, taking 4000 IU a day will become commonplace for most adults," predicted Garland in the press release. "This is below the 10,000 IU per day that the IOM Committee Report considers as the lower limit of risk, and the benefits are substantial."