A closer look: Vitamin D prevents pain in women starting breast cancer treatment
October 15, 2012 -- Kate Saley
Research presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting reports that high dose vitamin D3 combats joint pain, a common side effect of breast cancer therapy.
Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most pronounced side effects of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy, a common treatment for breast cancer. The pain associated with the treatment is one of the main causes of treatment discontinuation.
A pilot study published in 2009 by Dr Qamar J Khan and colleagues presented results from a small scale study that suggested beneficial effects from vitamin D3 supplementation on AI treatment side effects. Dr. Khan’s present study strengthens the validity of the past research.
Dr Khan, Dr Bruce Kimler, and colleagues recruited 160 women with stage I-III breast cancers who were starting adjuvant AI therapy and had a vitamin D level ≤40 ng/mL. All participants received the AI treatment (letrozole), as well as 600 IU vitamin D3 and 1200 mg calcium daily. The participants were randomly assigned to the vitamin D arm (30,000 IU D3/weekly) or the placebo arm for 24 weeks. Vitamin D status, symptoms (pain, fatigue, and quality of life), and hand grip strength were all assessed at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. Continue reading → (no membership required)
RCT: Vitamin D induces short-term increase in muscular power
October 12, 2012 -- Brant Cebulla
A recent randomized controlled trial has found that vitamin D supplementation may help peak power in the short term, but perhaps not in the long run over the course of a workout program. Continue reading → (membership required)
RCT: Investigating the effects of vitamin D supplementation on Finnish infants
October 9, 2012 -- Rebecca Oshiro
A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status, calcium homeostasis, and bone strength in infants. Continue reading → (membership required)
Low vitamin D status may increase risk of death from pneumonia
October 11, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Researchers in New Zealand wanted to know if death rates from community-acquired pneumonia were related to vitamin D levels. Dr Cannell explains the study findings. Continue reading → (no membership required)
A closer look: Vitamin D toxicity
October 15, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
Dr Cannell discusses research on vitamin D intoxication due to manufacturing errors, and the possible implications this has for further vitamin D and cancer research. Continue reading → (membership required)
Dear Dr Cannell: Vitamin D connection with alopecia areata?
October 14, 2012 -- John Cannell, MD
A mother writes to Dr Cannell asking if vitamin D could help her daughter’s alopecia areata, an inflammatory condition in which hair is lost, usually from different spots on the scalp. Continue reading → (no membership required)
Vitamin D prevents pain in women starting breast cancer treatment
October 15, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Research presented recently at the American Society of Clinical Oncology reports that high dose vitamin D is effective in decreasing joint pain, a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. Continue reading → (news)
Low D status associated with impaired hepatitis C treatment response
October 11, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Study finds that people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C who are vitamin D deficient are significantly less likely to have an early or sustained response to treatment than those with normal vitamin D status. Continue reading → (news)
Susan G Komen funding vitamin D, breast cancer research
October 10, 2012 -- Vitamin D News
Susan G Komen for the Cure is currently funding research investigating the effect of vitamin D and body weight on breast cancer prevention. Continue reading → (news)