Insights

AUGUST 9, 2011

Cancer and the Importance of Vitamin D

Mary L. Hardy, MD

Experts have discovered an "epidemic" of Vitamin D deficiency and linked low Vitamin D levels to higher rates of many common cancers including colon, breast, prostate as well as pancreatic, ovarian and bladder cancer. Clear benefits for bone health and fracture prevention are well described along with positive effects in cardiac health, immune function and mood. Dr. Hardy discusses the latest thinking and controversies over the importance of Vitamin D in the prevention of cancer and its role in overall health
Although exciting research is developing in this area, many questions remain including how much vitamin D to take and in what form. Some confusion still exists about the optimal level of vitamin D in the blood and patients are unclear about the relationship between sun exposure and vitamin D levels. Dr. Hardy reviews the latest literature prepares you to discuss this topic with your physician and help guide you in making sensible decisions.

Mary L. Hardy, MD, is an Associate Diplomate physician at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, the Medical Director of the Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology and board certified in internal medicine. She is an integrative medicine physician who educates patients and family members about complementary medicine choices, nutrition and dietary supplements. She was the Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Dietary Supplement Research in Botanicals and the founding Medical Director of the Cedars-Sinai Integrative Medicine Program. Her clinical practice for more than 17 years has focused on integrating the best of western conventional medicine with appropriate complementary therapies for a wide variety of patients, including people with cancer. She has a special interest in botanical medicine and has trained with scientists and herbalists all over the world including China, Peru, Kenya and South Africa.