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Vitamin D, calcium protect against cancer in women





Globally, cancer is a dreaded disease with no guaranteed cure. Research findings on its prevention say the combination of vitamin D and Calcium may help prevent some type of cancers in women, reports Seye Adeniyi
THERE are many diseases afflicting us today that could have been prevented if right steps have been
at appropriate time with early diagnosis made coupled with the administration of appropriate medications. Cancer for example, is one of the killers of women and it is believed that it can only be prevented, managed, but yet without a sure cure at the moment.

However, the good news for women is that they can “mount a road block” against any type of cancer by taking a combination of Vitamin D and Calcium. Although several researches are on going to find a permanent cure to this debilitating disease, this discovery scientists at the Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha say may be helpful. The study found that large doses of these nutrients can actually protect women of ages 55 and above against the disease. In fact, the scientists said calcium alone can protect women against cancer, but its effectiveness could be improved on by combining it with with Vitamin D.

In the research study which lasted for over four years, 1,179 healthy post-menopausal women were given either daily dosages of 1,400 to 1,500 milligrammes of Calcium, or the Calcium plus 22.5 millicentigrammes (mcg) of Vitamin D3, or placebos. Because some of the women involved may have had undiagnosed cancers at the start of the study, the researchers eliminated the first-year results and considered the last three years result of the study.

At the end of the study, it was discovered that those in the Calcium and Vitamin D3 group had a 77 per cent reduction in cancer risk, compared to those in the dummy group, while the risk in the Calcium-only group was reduced by 47 per cent. Altogether, there were 13 cases of cancer among the 446 women that took the two nutrients compared with the 20 cases among 288 women placed on placebos, 17 of the 445 women that took Calcium alone developed cancer.

The result of the research was documented in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Experts also believe that the two nutrients acting together is a good combination therapy to slow the growth rate of cancer cells. Professor. Joan Lappe of the Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, who led the research said: “The findings further confirm what Vitamin D proponents have suspected for some time.” Vitamin D “is a critical tool in fighting cancer as well as many other diseases.”

It will be recalled that in 2005, a scientific review showed that a large daily intake of Vitamin D reduced by up to 50 per cent, the risk of developing breast, ovarian, colon, prostate as well as other types of cancers. Vitamin D can be found in some type of fishes like tuna, salmon and is most abundant in oily fishes. However, most of the nutrients that make it into the bloodstream come from sun exposure.

Vitamin D is also highly needed in the development of strong, healthy bones. Its chief function is to maintain the right concentration of calcium and phosphorus within the body. This is also important in babies and young children whose bones are developing rapidly. According to Dr. Adigun Adewole, Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin”, because when the ultraviolet rays of the sun fall on the skin, this vitamin is formed. “But when it is lacking in the diet, or normal sunshine is lacking, health problems like bone deformities may occur. If this happens in children, the condition is known as rickets”, he explained.

Rickets means the bones are soft and easily bent. In young infants, there may be a marked softening of the bones of the skull. The head may also be flattened on one side, and the chest could also be affected as a result of lack of Vitamin D. Premature infants are also more likely to have rickets and that is why they must be given an adequate amount of Vitamin D.
Also breast-fed babies could develop rickets if the mother is not placed on a well-balanced diet. Best sources of Vitamin D are egg yolk, cod liver oil, milk etc.

On the other hand, Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. Almost all of the calcium is found in the bones, where it provides strength and stability to the whole system. A small quantity of calcium is always carried in the bloodstream, where, among other things, it helps to prevent serious haemorrhages.

Lack of calcium in the body affects nerves and muscles. For instance, if calcium levels in the body drops below a safe level, the nerves become extremely irritable and the muscles go into spasm, which may also lead to cramping pains that may be felt in various parts of the body. When calcium is also reduced in the bloodstream, the heart may loose its power, heartbeat becomes irregular and this condition may lead to heart problems.

In the body, there is close chemical relationship between Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D. A deficiency in any of these may produce rickets in children and cause osteomalacia in adults. Sources of calcium are milk, green vegetables, peas, beans, soybeans, eggs, lentils, potatoes and fish. Children who are well supplied with calcium during their childhood years may not be susceptible to certain diseases, including cancer in their later years of life, says Dr. Wale Oguntuase.

Men who regularly take good amount of calcium and Vitamin D may not experience prostate cancer. But one basic fact that must be understood is that Calcium cannot be absorbed unless there is an adequate supply of Vitamin D in the diet. Fish liver oil popularly referred to as cod liver oil, is also a good source of both nutrients. However, with the outcome of this research, women are encouraged to prevent cancers by taking a combination of Calcium and Vitamin D3.

SOURCE: http://www.tribune.com.ng/06092007/hlt1.html