New Model Suggests Role of Low Vitamin D in Cancer Development

[Celebration]

http://www.physorg.com/news162183735.html

In studying the preventive effects of vitamin D, researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, have proposed a new model of cancer development that hinges on a loss of cancer cells' ability to stick together. The model, dubbed DINOMIT, differs substantially from the current model of cancer development, which suggests genetic mutations as the earliest driving forces behind cancer.

"The first event in cancer is loss of communication among cells due to, among other things, low vitamin D and calcium levels," said epidemiologist Cedric Garland, DrPH, professor of family and preventive medicine at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, who led the work. "In this new model, we propose that this loss may play a key role in cancer by disrupting the communication between cells that is essential to healthy cell turnover, allowing more aggressive cancer cells to take over."

Reporting online May 22, 2009 in the Annals of Epidemiology, Garland suggests that such cellular disruption could account for the earliest stages of many cancers. He said that previous theories linking vitamin D to certain cancers have been tested and confirmed in more than 200 epidemiological studies, and understanding of its physiological basis stems from more than 2,500 laboratory studies.

......................

Garland went on to explain that each letter in DINOMIT stands for a different phase of cancer development. "D" stands for disjunction, or loss of intercellular communication; "I," for initiation, where genetic mutations begin to play a role; "N" for natural selection of the fastest-reproducing cancer cells; "O" for overgrowth of cells; "M" for metastasis, when cancer cells migrate to other tissues, where cancer can kill; "I" refers to involution, and "T" for transition, both dormant states that may occur in cancer and potentially be driven by replacing vitamin D.

While there is not yet definitive scientific proof, Garland suggests that much of the evolutionary process in cancer could be arrested at the outset by maintaining vitamin D adequacy. "Vitamin D may halt the first stage of the cancer process by re-establishing intercellular junctions in malignancies having an intact vitamin D receptor," he said.

[hedgehog]

1. Correlation is not causation, but black men have a higher rate of prostate cancer.

[Schema Thing]

2. don't be blowing sunshine up my ass now

er... on second thought, go ahead.

:+

[patrice]

3. Correction: Correlation may or may not be causation. But in either case it IS correlation and, ergo,

not un-related. The question is exactly what the relationship is. If something that is corelated affects something else that is either the direct cause or more directly related to the cause(s) that is important information.

[Codeine]

4. Correlation can most certainly be unrelated. nt

[patrice]

7. Okay: It can be mearly co-incidental, but even a low co-relation can be related, just to relatively

rare instances of certain relationships.

[Speck Tater]

6. Correlation is not causation AND correlation is not non-causation.

Correlation can be suggestive of causation thus justifying further inquiry.
However, the model presented shows BOTH correlation, AND posits a plausible cellular/molecular mechanism for a causative link, which taken together is even more suggestive of causation, and thus more strongly justifies further inquiry.

[hedgehog]

10. I meant to imply ythat while the higher rate of prostate cancer

in African Americans doesn't prove that Vitamin D prevents cancer, it certainly warrants further research.

[Speck Tater]

12. Ah, yes. I misunderstood. Thank you for clarifying. nt.

[Aragorn]

13. theory is not new

and may only relate to potential for metastasis. But there is a big hole in it - skin cancers, especially melanoma. Think about it.

[hedgehog]

14. Pure speculation here, but here's a hypothesis:

We know that the make-up of the light reaching the surface of the earth is dependent on the atmosphere. For example, ozone at high altitudes filters out UV light reaching the surface.

We also know that human activity has measurably changed the make-up of the atmosphere.

What if the wavelengths which naturally generate Vitamin D in humans have been partially filtered, and/or wavelengths that trigger cellular damage leading to cancers are now passing through?

[onehandle]

5. My GP (who is a well trained, tech savvy genius) just put me on Vitamin D.

He says that recent studies have found a relationship between Vitamin D and long life in general.

My blood work said that I was low in D.

I do what he says.

[patrice]

8. Yeah, I'm taking a calcium/D combo in liquid form and I do feel better when I'm on it.

Supposed to go for my "well-(old)-woman" blood work next week, so I will know more then.

[The River]

9. Good To Know

Thanks...

[Celebration]

11. Well the epidemiologists know the importance of Vitamin D

So much so that they are on a mission to increase the RDA. In the meantime, there is this:

http://www.grassrootshealth.net/

Scientists are calling for a standard vitamin D intake of 2000 IU/day and the achievement of a serum level of 40-60 ng/ml. Scientists' Call to Action.

GrassrootsHealth has launched a worldwide public health campaign to solve the vitamin D deficiency epidemic in a year through a focus on testing and education with all individuals spreading the word.

Everyone is invited to join in this campaign! Join Daction and test two times per year during a 5 year program to demonstrate the public health impact of this nutrient.

They obviously negotiated a discount price with a Vitamin D testing company, and are passing along the savings to the participants, as well as suggestions, etc., in exchange for tracking through a health questionnaire.

The advantages of Vitamin D3 levels being in the upper end of the range are shown in epidemiological results across a broad array of conditions, as demonstrated by this chart--

http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=6065

But this is the first time I have heard of this proposed mechanism.