Can 10,000 IU of Vitamin A be harmful?

Why aren't people taking at least 1000 IU of Vitamin D3 each day if can reduce cancer risk by 50%?

• Cancer prevention specialists at the University of California recently conducted an extensive review of scientific papers published worldwide between 1966 and 2004. Their analysis suggested that taking 1000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 daily lowers an individual’s risk of developing colorectal cancer by 50%. The researchers recommended increased intake of vitamin D3 as an inexpensive, non-toxic preventive therapy for colon cancer. Specifically, they hope to see the federal government officially recommend intake of 1000 IU per day of vitamin D3 for cancer prevention. Vitamin D’s applications in promoting optimal health stem from its ability to control production of vital proteins by switching genes on and off, and thus helping to determine the fate of cells. Cells affected by the active form of vitamin D, known as calcitriol, stop growing and reproducing, and rapidly mature into their final forms. These effects help prevent the proliferation (uncontrolled growth) of potentially cancerous cells, while stimulating cells to differentiate (mature) so that they can carry out their mature functions, such as stimulating immune system activity

• Answer:

  To answer your question, I would like to quote where you said that "researchers recommended increased intake of vitamin D3 as an inexpensive, non-toxic preventive therapy for colon cancer". That is a good suggestion, but herein lies the problem . The public should follow these recommendations, but doctors will not encourage them to do so. The official policy response to cancer, supported by a powerful drug industry, is a treatment approach, using toxic, expensive medications. Prevention is a dirty word in this scheme of things, as it is not profitable. There is simply no allowance permitted by orthodox medicine for this type of preventive therapy. An individual who is getting more sun exposure, or purchasing vitamin D supplements, is not financially contributing to the prescription drug industry, so this prevention option will be ignored, unfortunately. And this is not some conspiracy theory.