Vitamin D is now known to be the single most important vitamin in cancer prevention. Groundbreaking studies in the past 3 years have confirmed that adequate Vitamin D is most likely the major factor in cancer prevention. Studies have identified a potential 60% or greater reduction in the incidence of cancer of the breast and colon in people with adequate vitamin D. This staggering fact has caused international bodies around the world to quickly reconsider recommendations about Vitamin D.  

Vitamin D is synthesized in skin upon exposure to UVB in bright sunlight. Our exposure to sunlight has decreased in the past three decades with well-meaning health authorities doing massive campaigns to reduce sun exposure in order to reduce skin cancer. Meanwhile overall cancer rates have been escalating dramatically. Explanations for this have focused on pollution, other toxins and stress of our modern world. The answer, it seems, is as simple as Vitamin D. Numerous population studies have convincingly shown that cancer rates are the highest amongst people with the lowest vitamin D levels. Even moderately low levels are associated with a high risk of cancer. What is very worrying is that vitamin D deficiency is very common. Those particularly at risk are people living in Northern latitudes, Asian, Indian or Black skin types, people who avoid the sun, babies,  of vitamin D deficient mothers, the elderly and people who wear full coverage clothing.   

This frenzy of recent study into the possibility that Vitamin D is the single best factor for cancer prevention has identified that vitamin D is likely a key player in the prevention of many other diseases. The strongest links to date are with breast and colon cancer, but other cancers including pancreatic cancer and, ironically, even skin cancer are linked with low vitamin D. The connection goes even further than with cancer. So far very convincing links have been shown between low vitamin D and the number of colds and flu’s one gets, multiple sclerosis, blockages in the heart vessels, autism, depression and seasonal affective disorder (sadness in the winter), diabetes and weight gain. One study revealed that women will gain 40% more weight in their 40s and 50s if they are deficient in vitamin D.  

In my own observation of 400 people between the ages of 5 and 50 in Hong Kong only 3% had over the recommended blood level of 50 ng/ml for cancer prevention without supplementation. The patients were predominantly Caucasian, Chinese and Indian people living the typical Hong Kong life of indoor office or school, sunscreen use and wearing urban clothing.   

Many health bodies are scrambling to adjust their recommendations about sun exposure. In Canada, where sun is limited, the Canadian Cancer Society has now recommended taking 1000 IU supplement of vitamin D daily during the low sun months or year round for those with little sun exposure, dark skin types or persons over 60 years. This is the first time a supplement has been recommended by an official body for preventing cancer. Unfortunately vitamin D has very few natural sources other than sunlight. It is found in tuna, salmon and cod liver oil and milk if it has been fortified. Almost all brands of milk available in Hong Kong are not fortified with Vitamin D. Multivitamins and calcium tablets tend to contain low levels of 400 IU which satisfy the now outdated recommendations. 

While our knowledge of this pivotal connection unfolds reasonable recommendations for Hong Kong living are as follows: 

Put Dr LB and P recommendations here:     www.laurenbramley.com 

Vitamin D Council strives to increase public and professional awareness of the global epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. www.vitamindcouncil.org