Could Vitamin D Improve Your Prostate Cancer Status?
In a previous post I explained how during a recent doctor’s visit with one of my prostate cancer clients I asked the question if supplementation with Vitamin D could slow the progression of disease. The healthcare provider said it could be helpful in lowering risk of disease, however, there were no human studies that showed it benefited men with low-grade disease on active surveillance.
Well, I pulled out my tablet and did a quick search of the medical literature while the doc and patient (my client) continued discussing other topics. I came across an interesting study, which is discussed below.
Do high doses of vitamin D slow progression of prostate cancer?
- 43 Men diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer, and on active surveillance, had a biopsy to remove portions of the prostate so it could be examined for evidence of disease (NOTE: active surveillance means that the cancer is low-risk and does not need to be treated with surgery or radiation; men are “watched” and tested periodically to make sure their cancer did not progress)
- These men had a Gleason score less than 6, PSA levels less than 10 ng/mL, and were clinically staged at T1c or T2a. This is the typical classification of a low-grade prostate cancer
- All 43 men in this study were asked to take Vitamin D3 for 1 year (4,000 international units every day)
- After 1 year 55% of the men taking Vitamin D had disease that IMPROVED or stayed the same [they either had fewer cancer tumors in the prostate or their disease did not get worse, as seen by no change in their Gleason score]
- What about the other 45% of men?:
- 11% of had no change in their prostate cancer status (they remained “low-grade”)
- 33% of patients showed that their disease did progress from low-grade to intermediate-grade
The doctors of this study allowed the 55% of men that responded to Vitamin D supplements to remain under active surveillance. This means they did not have to have surgery, radiation treatment of hormone therapy. This helps reduce the overall healthcare costs for treating these patients and potentially avoids over-treatment.
Takeaway
While the majority of these low-risk prostate cancer patients slowed down the progression of the disease with 4,000 IU per day of Vitamin D for 1 year, there were others that did not. The study sample is too small to draw any conclusions except that further studies are needed to determine why Vitamin D showed no benefit in all patients in this group. Discuss with your healthcare provider if this option is right for you.
Here’s to your best health!
Dr. Dee Grace, PhD Scientist │Cancer Patient Advocate 770-229-7129 [email protected]
Conquer Cancer │Thrive│Prevent. Bedside Manners provides health advocacy and education so cancer patients get good bedside manners and healthcare. We focus on 3 things: 1) educating patients on science-backed natural ways to improve their quality of life; 2) empowering patients and survivors with a “survivorship game-plan”; and 3) ensuring patients receive quality healthcare that improves their chances of survival.
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Reference: Marshall DT, et al. Vitamin D3 supplementation at 4,000 international units per day for one-year results in a decrease of positive cores at repeat biopsy in subjects with low-risk prostate cancer under active surveillance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97:2315.