Vitamin D Found to Play Role in Prostate Health

by | Aug 27, 2008 | 2008, Men's Health, Men's Health - Prostate, Vitamin D - General

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In a cell study, researchers found that 2 groups of healthy prostate cells supplemented with vitamin D had a 27% and 64% greater survival when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.

A recent study (1) has found that vitamin D, known to help bone health (2), immune system health (3), blood sugar health (4) and overall health (5) may also help improve prostate health.

In the study, researchers exposed both normal (BPH-1 and RWPE-1 cell lines) and cancerous prostate cancer cells (CWR22R and DU 145 cell lines) to 100 nanomoles (.04 mg) of vitamin D for 24 hours and exposed them to hydrogen peroxide to stimulate oxidation in the cells.

The prostate cancer cells showed no change in survivability between the vitamin D and placebo groups after hydrogen peroxide exposure. However, the healthy cells in the vitamin D group had a survival rate 27% higher in the BPH-1 group and 64% higher in the RWPE-1 group, compared to placebo.  They found that vitamin D’s protective role in the healthy prostate cells was from its ability to increase the activity of an antioxidant enzyme called Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), known to protect red blood cells against oxidative damage (6) but which may now offer protection for healthy prostate cells.

For the researchers, “The [antioxidant properties] of vitamin D strengthens its roles in cancer chemoprevention and adds to a growing list of beneficial effects of vitamin D against cancer.”

Source: Bao, Bo‐Ying, Huei‐Ju Ting, Jong‐Wei Hsu, and Yi‐Fen Lee. “Protective role of 1α, 25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 against oxidative stress in nonmalignant human prostate epithelial cells.” International Journal of Cancer 122, no. 12 (2008): 2699-2706.

© 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Posted August 27, 2008.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Danville, CA.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com visiting his web site at www.CompleteChiropracticHealthcare.com.

References:

  1. Bao BY.  Protective role of 1, alpha-25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 against oxidative stress in nonmalignant human prostate epithelial cells.  International Journal of Cancer 2008; 122(12): 2699-2706.
  2. Talwar SA.  Dose response to vitamin D supplementation among postmenopausal African American women.  Amer Jou Clin Nutr 2007; 86: 1657-1662.
  3. Martineau AR.  A Single Dose of Vitamin D Enhances Immunity to Mycobacteria.  Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 176: 208-213. First published online as doi:10.1164/rccm.200701-007OC.
  4. Hu FB.  Vitamin D and Calcium Intake in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes in Women.  Diabetes Care 29: 650-656.
  5. Autier P, Gandini S. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(16):1730-1737.
  6. Beutler E. Study of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase: history and molecular biology. Am J Hematol 1993; 42: 53-8.