Higher Vitamin D Intake Reduces Disease Risk

Higher intake of vitamin D is needed to boost blood levels that can prevent or reduce the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes, according to new research published in the journal Anticancer Research.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Creighton University School of Medicine reviewed surveys of several thousand volunteers who were taking vitamin D supplements in the dosage range from 1,000 to 10,000 IU/day. Blood studies were conducted to determine the level of 25-vitamin D.

“We found that daily intakes of vitamin D by adults in the range of 4,000-8,000 IU are needed to maintain blood levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce by about half the risk of several diseases," said Cedric Garland, DrPH, professor of family and preventive medicine at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. “I was surprised to find that the intakes required to maintain vitamin D status for disease prevention were so high—much higher than the minimal intake of vitamin D of 400 IU/day that was needed to defeat rickets in the 20th century.

Garland said now that the results of this study are in, it will become common for almost every adult to take 4,000 IU/day. “This is comfortably under the 10,000 IU/day that the IOM Committee Report considers as the lower limit of risk, and the benefits are substantial," he added.
Sources:


* University of California, San Diego: Higher Vitamin D Intake Needed to Reduce Cancer Risk