Just in case you needed moreproof that low blood levels of vitamin D represent a significant healthconcern, researchers publishingin the European Journal of ClinicalNutrition demonstrate that small increases in the sunshine vitamin can addprecious years to your life. For nearly a decade scientific evidence has beenmounting to show that the vast majorities of adults (and many children) aregrossly deficient in circulating blood levels of vitamin D.
Further proof is documented inthe PLoS One journal to show theprecise cellular mechanism that helps vitamin D dramatically lower the risk ofcolon cancer. The bottom line is simple: check your vitamin D blood saturationwith an inexpensive test and make the necessary adjustments to live a healthierand longer life.
Doubling Average Vitamin D Levels Could Cut World Death Rate by TwentyPercent
Using epidemiologic studies, Dr.W.B. Grant of the Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center in SanFrancisco found that doubling the serum blood concentration of vitamin D couldincrease average life expectancy by two years. Dr. Grant and his teamidentified the major diseases that responded to increased levels of vitaminD. They then compared mortality rates to six identified regions around thecountry, and contrasted serum blood levels of the sunshine vitamin with diseaseoccurrence.
After compiling all the data, theresearchers found that conditions and diseases responsive to vitamin D thataccount for over half of the world's mortality include cancer, cardiovasculardisease, diabetes, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases and infections. It wasdetermined that doubling the circulating level of vitamin D would lower themortality rates of diseases that are sensitive to vitamin D by approximately 20percent. Dr. Grant concluded“several ways to raise serum vitamin Dinclude food fortification, supplementation and increased ultraviolet Bexposure.”
Vitamin D Directly Correlated With Decreased Colon Cancer Risk
Researchers have known for sometime that low vitamin D levels are associated with a significant increase incolon cancer cases, but have not understood the specific mechanism responsible.Now, scientists have discovered how a lack of vitamin D promotes DNA damage andcolon cancer risk. Specifically, low vitamin D status instigates thedevelopment and progression of this devastating form of cancer.
Researchers have focused on aprotein in intestinal epithelial cells called beta-catechin that normally helpsepithelial cells bond together with other cells to form a protective barrierbetween the contents in your gut and the physical structure of your digestivetract. They found that when vitaminD is lacking, DNA synthesis is disrupted and beta-catechin builds up incells, dramatically increasing the risk of colon cancer initiation.
There should be no doubtremaining that one of the most critical foundations to vibrant health ismaintaining proper vitamin D blood saturation levels. Prevention is worth apound of cure, so have your family physician run the simple and inexpensive 25(OH)D blood test (alternatively, mail-in home testing is now a viable option),and be certain your level runs between 50 and 70 ng/mL to add years to yourlife and dramatically lower colon cancer and chronic disease risk.
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