No: 11 in a series of articles - Vitamin D3
One of the great side benefits of being a documentary producer, besides totally enjoying my work, is that I continue to learn from some of the most knowledgeable people in the world without actually sitting in a classroom. The world is my classroom and I have one on one tuition. In producing this documentary on "Alternative Treatments for Prostate Cancer" although I had thoroughly researched the subject before shooting frame one, some things become more clear or focused in a layman's (my) mind or become more important to the exploration and veracity of the subject.
One such teacher is John Jacob Cannel M.D. a leading advocate in the use of the hormone Vitamin D3 for the prevention of many conditions and diseases, some of which, including autism, prostate and breast cancer, are considered chronic. Many of the readers of this journal live in northern latitudes so it is probably common knowledge that most people in those latitudes are Vitamin D deficient. But not enough doctors encourage their patients to take a supplemental D3 in large enough quantities to offset the persistent lack of sunshine. Which in itself might explain why so many chronic diseases such as prostate cancer are more prevalent in northern latitudes.
Dr. Cannell was instrumental in forming the Vitamin D Council that explores medical issues where vitamin D has been shown to be instrumental in the prevention or cure of some of the most common of chronic conditions. Vitamin Ds role in reversing depression is fairly well known but until I interviewed Dr. Cannell I had no idea just how instrumental it can be in preventing or even possibly curing prostate cancer. It has been shown in vitro that Vitamin D can kill certain prostate cancer cell lines and more research needs to be done in vivo. But for prostate cancer patients upping ones daily intake of Vitamin D so that their blood level is optimal (around 50 ng/ml as shown in a 25 hydroxy vitamin D blood test), cannot hurt and could well provide a missing link in treatment and prevention of a return of PC following remission.
Mortality rates from prostate cancer in the U.S. are inversely correlated with ultraviolet radiation, the principal source of vitamin D.
Although my production deals only with men and prostate cancer a recent breakthrough reported in the Creighton University press showed that in a 3-year study involving 1179 healthy postmenopausal women that vitamin D3 in dietary supplements reduced the risk of cancer (all cancers) by a whopping 60-77%.
If you totally avoid the sun, recent research indicates you need about 4,000 units of vitamin D a day! Which means you can't get enough vitamin D from milk (unless you drink 40 glasses a day) or from a multivitamin (unless you take about 10 tablets a day), neither of which is recommended.
If you don't get vitamin D the way Mother Nature intended, from sunshine, you need to take supplemental vitamin D3 cholecalciferol. Particularly is you are a prostate cancer patient no matter what treatment you chose.