By Donna V. Scaglione
Vitamin D is frequently in the news as various studies have shown it potentially fights cancer, reduces heart disease risk, staves off diabetes, and boosts testosterone. Although most of these studies are observational and a cause-and-effect relationship hasn’t been proven, the findings are exciting and serve as a reminder to make sure you’re getting the daily amount of vitamin D recommended by the Institute of Medicine: 600 to 800 international units (IU).
1. Fight melanoma
Vitamin D serves as a signaling mechanism in the body, turning cells on and off, explains the New York Times. That may be the case with cancer cells, scientists speculate, with vitamin D stopping cells from turning malignant. A recent study in which vitamin D appeared to protect women who had had non-melanoma skin cancers from getting the deadlier version gives that theory some weight. However, researchers say their results need to be confirmed in further studies.
"We're not recommending super high doses" of vitamin D, study author Dr. Jean Tang, from Stanford University School of Medicine in Redwood City, Calif., tells Reuters Health. But she adds: "I feel good about saying if you've already had a non-melanoma skin cancer, you're already at risk for developing melanoma in the future, (and) taking a little bit of calcium and vitamin D, while other studies need to be done, seems reasonable and not harmful."
