There are many links between nutrient availability and cancer formation and progression that have been “peer-review studied”. One is the link between vitamin D and cancer. A precursor to the biologically active vitamin D can be obtained in the diet or produced in the skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol (note: a healthy cholesterol level must be maintained to produce this product) upon exposure to sunlight. This precursor is first metabolized in the liver to form 25-hydroxyvitamin D (biologically inert) and then in the kidney to form the active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D).

When we have adequate store of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin, UV rays from the sun accounts for 90-95% of an individual’s requirements of vitamin D. 7-dehydrocholesterol is synthesized from cholesterol which is another reason to re-think what our normal blood cholesterol levels should be and whether artificially reducing such with statin medications is a good idea. While at it, we may need to re-think the excessive use of sun-blocking chemicals. One can agree the health issues associated with the toxic sources in the chemicals contained but here we may argue against the decrease in vitamin D production. While excessive burning from the sun is cancer causing, sun phobia may be equally damaging.

Numerous studies have revealed that there is an increased risk of several cancers (especially prostate, colon, and breast) in people living at higher latitudes and it has been proposed that vitamin D deficiency is at least a partial contributor. One study compared the growth of cancer cells in vitamin D deficient versus vitamin D sufficient mice. (Tangpricha et al, 2005) Tumors grew 80 % larger on average in the vitamin D deficient mice.

Current data reveals that vitamin D is a chemopreventative agent that inhibits cancer growth and induces differentiation and apoptosis through several molecular processes. It can act as a negative ligand (blocking) tumor growth (through the EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor pathway); it can also directly activate specific tumor suppressor genes such as the BRCA1 and p21 pathways, thereby stimulating cancer cell death.

Vitamin D may be the simplest  addition to anyone’s cancer protocol; see more here: