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Why Vitamin D Is So Important
Because of the fact that women with breast cancer are generally deficient in vitamin D – and this is the time of year when we start to get deficiencies, when sunlight is less available or we’re all covered up, I wanted to raise awareness that this is a good time of year for vitamin D supplementation.
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because certain amounts of it come from sunshine in an interesting chemical reaction that happens in the skin. While soaking in the sun may seem like a great idea for getting the vitamin D we need, as you are probably aware, it can create problems for us by giving us wrinkly skin and increasing our risk of skin cancer.
Vitamin D is required for a healthy, functioning immune system. It is also required for the proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus — two minerals that are crucial to bone health. Vitamin D also contribute to brain and heart health, as well as maintaining a healthy weight.
The importance of vitamin D cannot be stressed enough. It is no ordinary “vitamin”, it is in fact a steroid hormone that influences nearly every cell in your body. Receptors that respond to vitamin D have been found in nearly every type of human cell, from the bones to the brain, which is why it has such a powerful part to play in the human body.
Vitamin D’s Role In Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer
As we know, many breast cancers are fueled by estrogen and for those whose tumor cells have estrogen receptors (known as ER+, meaning that this sort of tumor appears to depend on estrogen to grow) there is some really great news about vitamin D.
In a 2012 animal study [1], researchers reported that calcitriol (the hormonally active form of vitamin D) inhibits the growth of many cancerous cells, including breast cancer cells, by arresting the cancer cells’ replication cycles. Researchers also found that vitamin D suppressed aromatase, the enzyme that assists with estrogen synthesis in breast cancer cells. That makes vitamin D a natural aromatase inhibitor.
2018 update: A 2018 study [2] found that women who were aged 55 years or older who had a vitamin D serum level of 60 ng/ml or greater had a whopping 80% reduced risk of breast cancer compared to those with a vitamin D level of 20 ng/ml or less. Three different analyses of the data showed similar results.
The Top 6 Food Sources of Vitamin D
According to the website Nutrition Data [3], these are the top 6 food sources of vitamin D:
- Fatty fishes like salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, catfish, oysters, trout, halibut (fish oils and cod liver oils have the highest concentrations)
- Fortified orange juice (make sure yours has vitamin D in it)
- Plain yogurt, milk
- 100% whole grain cereals such as oatmeal
- Eggs
- Soy milk, tofu
What I wanted you to be aware of is that most foods do not contain sufficient amounts of vitamin D. Additionally, many fatty fishes are now also being found to be polluted with Fukushima radiation, so eating more fish is not necessarily the answer to our vitamin D problems. Supplementation is the best route, this allows you to attain therapeutic doses and avoid possible toxins, especially if you choose a certified organic vitamin D3 supplement.
So How Much Is Enough and What Kind of Vitamin D?
According to mercola.com [4]: “When you do supplement with vitamin D, you’ll only want to supplement with natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Do NOT use the synthetic and highly inferior vitamin D2, which is the one most doctors will typically give you in a prescription unless you ask specifically for D3. According to the most recent findings, which involved research on nearly 10,000 people, shows the ideal adult dose appears to be 8,000 IU’s a day to get most into the healthy range.”
If you are concerned about your vitamin D levels, get them checked. The best way to determine the correct dose for you personally is to get your blood levels of vitamin D tested. The test you want to ask for from your doctor is the 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is the better marker of overall D status. This is the marker that is most strongly associated with overall health.
Additional Info: The folks over at Grassroots Health have more information and research about vitamin D and an enrollment for something called D*action Breast Cancer Prevention Project. Go check it out by clicking here.
References
[1] The potential therapeutic benefits of vitamin D in the treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer — http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22801352
[2] Breast cancer risk markedly lower with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations =60 vs <20 ng/ml (150 vs 50 nmol/L): Pooled analysis of two randomized trials and a prospective cohort — https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0199265
[3]Dr Mercola article – Vitamin D for Breast Cancer –http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/01/vitamin-d-for-breast-cancer.aspx
[4] http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-000102000000000000000.html
If you would like my help with getting through breast cancer in an inspiring and ultra-healthy way, please sign up for my free e-newsletters on the right, or “like” me on Facebook (Marnie Clark, Breast Health Coach). When you’re in a desperate situation, you need an ally. You can depend on me to help you through this.
I am also a breast cancer survivor, I had stage 2 ER positive, and I am refusing Femara due to so many frightfully side effects! I have a holistic and an acupuncturist that I am also working with. Right now I am on skullcap and mangosteen juice as a natural aromatase inhibitor, my new acupuncturist want to switch me to NuLignan. Do you know anything about these?
Thank you
Anna
Anna,
I sent you a private email in reply to your comment on my page – let me know if you need any further help. Thanks for your comment.
Regards,
Marnie
Hi Marnie,
One of your favorite students here since 2012.
Question: I have been taking Vitamin D for several months now. Up to 60 now. How do I keep at 60? And have you heard Astaxanthin? Thank you 💗
Hi Kathy,
Great to hear from you! Keep doing what you’ve been doing to get your vitamin D levels to 60. I find taking a high quality organic vitamin D3 supplement is the best way to ensure your levels stay high. Vitamin D3 is not only potent to help us stay well after a breast cancer diagnosis, but it’s also incredibly important for helping to protect against respiratory infections (like those experienced in the current pandemic) and also amazing for the immune system.
The best way to tell what your Vit D levels are is by a blood test, so whenever you go to your doctor’s office, just ask for the test.
Also, go to the website grassrootshealth.net and enroll in their Breast Cancer Prevention Project: https://www.grassrootshealth.net/project/breast-cancer-prevention/ for some additional support if you feel you need it.
Hope that helps!
All the best,
Marnie
Is there any particular kind of vitamin D I should get. I just ordered some so going to start taking it as soon as I get it.. thank you
Hi Angie,
Just make sure to take a good quality vitamin D3. I like to take organic D3 when I can find it. A therapeutic dose is 5,000 iu, but many are doubling that dose these days for the extra protection it affords. To be absolutely sure about your dose, you should get your vitamin D levels checked so you know where you’re starting from.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Hi Marnie,
I’m glad to have found your site. I was diagnosed with stage 1 ductal carcinoma ER + Pr + in February. I had a lumpectomy and SNB with no node involvement and I just finished a week of brachytherapy. I consider myself very lucky that this was caught early but I know what is looming – the decision on whether or not to take the AIs they will prescribe. I’ve read too much now and I am terrified of them. Definitely a case of the cure is worse than the disease! And we all know AIs are NOT a cure, they only give you a reduction in risk of recurrence, along with some horrific side effects. I’m waiting for Oncotype DX testing to come back and I’m getting armed with information before I meet with my oncologist. I think I have found a great doctor as I know he will give me all the data and stats and leave this decision to me. In the meantime I am doing as much as I can with diet and supplements that hopefully will help to inhibit aromatase activity. I’ll be following your blog closely too. Any advice is welcome and thanks for being here!
Hi Martha,
Thanks for your message, and for sharing some of your journey with me. I’ve just responded to you privately via email, so be on the lookout for that.
Warmest regards,
Marnie Clark
Two time survivor of breast cancer, 2008 and 2018, right and left breast respectively; and non-invasive and evasive. Lumpectomy both times. Took tamoxifen for five years during first breast cancer. Post-menopausal now and doctor recommends aramotose. Looking for natural inhibitors. Enjoying reading your articles.
What about the titanium markers they place ? My daughter just had one put in
Hi Kim,
To my knowledge, there have only been rare cases of base metal allergic reactions reported. I did meet one woman who experienced a lot of pain with hers and had to have it removed. This is all of the information I have, hope it helps. Is your daughter receiving my newsletters?
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Hello. Also a BC survivor and thriver here! IDC hormone receptor positive. I have taking Vit D3 for over a yr now. Should we also be taking calcium with it. I know there is certain vitamins that your body has difficulty absorbing without another vitamin but I always have difficulty remembering which is what?!?! I too have decided to NOT take arimidex and take supplements and vitamins instead. Along with other holistic alternatives! Thank you for all your knowledge and support that you share with others. I found you at the beginning of my journey in 2019 and have felt calm knowing I have you to refer to! God Bless you!
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for your lovely comments. Blessings to you as well. To better absorb vitamin D3, when I take it, I eat it with my evening meal and usually include a salad. Salads contain loads of vitamins like vitamin K, magnesium and zinc, all of which help you to absorb vitamin D3 better. Hope that helps!
Warmest regards,
Marnie