Thursday, November 17, 2011

#18) Don Imus's Urologist and Vitamin D

Don Imus is a nationwide talk show host who several years ago was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His wife Deidre said on today’s show that he researched urologists nationwide before deciding on a Columbia University urologist. The reason she chose him was because he was the only urologist out of the many she talked to nationwide who spoke of the importance of nutrition, getting a vitamin D level, and taking vitamin D to attain a higher level.

It has been proven beyond any doubt that a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 47 will reduce the risk of a woman getting breast cancer by 50%. The results of this summary, which itself reviewed every such study that has ever been done, was published in a medical journal this year and has been discussed in previous blogs.

But what about prostate cancer?

Both breast and prostate cancer are hormone related cancers. Prostate cancer isn’t as heavily researched as breast cancer. The studies that have been done show that the risk of prostate cancer varies inversely with the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Soon after PSA tests were in use several decades ago, some very observant urologists noticed that PSA levels in prostate cancer consistently went down with giving vitamin D. It’s also been noted that men with a new diagnosis of prostate cancer tend to have lower levels of vitamin D than in the general population.

Although it hasn’t been proven because of lack of research, it is a reasonable theory that a level of around 47 ng. of vitamin D would probably offer the same protection of 50% less risk of developing prostate cancer. The research that has been done tends to support this theory.

So men, what are you waiting for?