Published on July 23, 2019
Many studies have found that women with higher vitamin D levels have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. But what about women who already have breast cancer? Could vitamin D help them?
In July 2018, results were published from a study assessing the relationship between vitamin D supplement use initiated after a breast cancer diagnosis and associated mortality among 5,417 women in Ireland aged 50 to 80 years old.
What were the findings of the study?
Supplement users were those who were taking more than 400 IU/day and were categorized as starting either within 6 months of diagnosis or more than 6 months after diagnosis. Overall, there was a 20% lower risk of death from breast cancer among those who started using vitamin D supplements after diagnosis compared to those who didn’t (P=0.048). If vitamin D supplementation was initiated within 6 months of diagnosis, there was a 49% lower risk (P<0.001).
These associations were adjusted for other risk factors such as age at diagnosis, smoking status, comorbidities, tumor stage, tumor grade, receptor status, chemotherapy, and medication use.
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Do you know your vitamin D level?
Make sure you and your loved ones know your level of vitamin D! Testing vitamin D levels and taking daily steps to keep it at a target level of 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) is important for all stages of health. Find out your levels today! Log on to the shop (click the link below) to get your tests and see for yourself if your levels can be improved.
Make sure you track your results before and after, about every 6 months!
Click Here to Access the Shop Page
How can I track my vitamin D levels over time?
To help you track your supplement use and nutrient levels, GrassrootsHealth has created an online tracking system called myData-myAnswers. For each specific supplement, you can track what days you take it, how much, and many other details. This will help you know your true supplemental intake and what patterns of use work for you to reach and maintain optimum nutrient levels. Check it out today!
How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?
Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!
STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health
STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study
STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there
STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)
