Melanoma
Vitamin D and Melanoma Risk – What You Need To Know
Those who are suffering from melanoma should not lose hope as recent studies have discovered the potential of vitamin D to provide them with a survival chance. Although a very serious illness, researchers have discovered that patients suffering from melanoma have up to a 30% chance of survival if they possess significant amounts of vitamin D present in their bloodstreams.
The production of vitamin D happens when the UV rays present in sunlight strike the skin. Even if this can cause a heightened risk of skin cancer, especially when exposure to harsh sunlight is prolonged, having high levels of vitamin D in the body make melanoma patients have less severe lesions. Patients who have adequate amounts of vitamin D present in their bodies also have lower relapse rates.
Specialists advise melanoma patients to increase their intake of Vitamin D through using nutritional supplements added to a healthy diet. Some researchers even recommend boosting vitamin D intake up to 2000 UIs per day contrary to the 200 to 600 UIs, which is the recommended daily intake achieved through basking in sunlight for 15 – 20 minutes.
The National Institutes of Health and Cancer Research UK were the ones to conduct the first study that links the levels of vitamin D to the survival of melanoma patients. The research concluded that patients with melanoma who possess high levels of vitamin D in their bodies had thinner lesions compared to those patients who had low vitamin D levels. The research also led them to believe that it is common in western countries for people to have low vitamin D levels, as they tend to stay away from the sun in fear of acquiring skin cancer. The study concludes that it is important to eat foods that are rich in vitamin D so that the recommended dose of vitamin D is achieved.
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute then made a second study about the relation of vitamin D levels and melanoma survival. The results showed a lower death rate from patients with adequate vitamin D levels who are suffering from colorectal cancer. The study also found out that people suffering from high blood levels are more likely to survive from their ailment when they have adequate vitamin D. Further research is planned to find out weather having adequate amounts of vitamin D in the body proves beneficial in surviving from bowel cancer.
Other health benefits also become present when there are adequate vitamin D levels in the body. It gets protected against the acquisition of several diseases such as heart diseases, suffering from poor health, and having low energy. Children with low amounts of vitamin D in their body are highly likely to suffer from rickets. Vitamin D is really important, as it is a crucial factor for the enhancement of the body’s overall wellness as well as its health.
There are actually a lot of foods available, which contain high levels of vitamin D. fortified milk, cod liver oil, eggs, fish, and dairy products are just some of the foods that you can eat to increase vitamin D levels in your body. If you do not eat enough of these types of food and if you fail to get enough sun exposure, then it is advised that you take vitamin D supplements daily to make sure that you acquire the recommended amounts on a daily basis.
The new research about the potential of vitamin D is definitely good news for patients suffering from melanoma. The vitamin does not only lessen the ill effects caused by the illness, but it also increases the chance for survival and cure. This discovery about vitamin D definitely brings hope to scientists as well as patients suffering from melanoma and other related diseases.
