Recently, Dr. Northrup posted an article on the huffington post regarding the importance of vitamin D for breast health.
Dr. Northrup cites the following findings:
“A study conducted by Cedric Garland and other prominent vitamin D researchers determined that women with vitamin D levels above 52 ng/ml have half the risk of developing breast cancer as those with 13 ng/ml! Garland (et al) estimates that 58,000 new cases of breast cancer in the U.S. could be prevented per year by raising vitamin D levels to 52 ng/ml. Imagine what the global impact could be!”
Breast health is just one of the reasons why Vitamin D has been getting so much attention. It is not only an essential vitamin for bones, skin integrity, and heart health, it is also an important hormone that can regulate gene expression! This could be why it’s deficiency is linked to not only hormonal disorders but also cancer.
Healthy levels of vitamin D should be between 50-80 ng/ml. Most people are very deficient and in order to obtain this level, your doctor may recommend a very high dose to be taken once a week. This is fine as long as you are being monitored through blood tests. Blood monitoring is necessary, because vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and too much of it can be toxic.
I have found in my practice, that balancing the body and addressing lifestyle as well with supplements, much lower doses of vitamin D are needed to achieve the same increase in levels. For example, the best source of vitamin D is sunlight, and most people don’t get enough of this. I have seen how a 20 minute walk outdoors, 800-2000 IUs of vitamin D supplementation along with hormonal support, and addressing liver conversion of this vitamin can create many health benefits beyond simply raising a lab number.
For more information on vitamin D, be sure to visit my website and search this key phrase at dr-lobisco.com.
References:
Christiane Northrup. Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christiane-northrup/protect-your-breasts-with_b_265642.html.
Dobbins, Michael. The Vitamin Complexes. 3/25/2009.
Dr. Mercola. Warning, potentially life threatening vitamin Deficiency
