Vitamin D study shines light on new health benefit

[Editor-in-Chief]

Vitamin D study shines light on new health benefit

Vitamin D may cut pancreatic cancer by as much as 41%

TORONTO, Sept. 15 /CNW/ - Vitamin D, often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin", is well-known for the role it plays in helping the body to absorb calcium and maintain strong bones for the prevention of osteoporosis.

However, a new research found that Vitamin D may cut the risk of pancreatic cancer and is helping to shine light of another health benefit of this vitamin.

The study, published in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, found that the risk of pancreatic cancer may be cut by as much as 41% by consuming the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D (400 IU), according to an epidemiologic study of more than 100,000 people(1).

According to the study, individuals benefited from the protective effect whether they received their vitamin D from dietary sources (such as skim milk and fatty fish), vitamin supplements, or a combination of both.

Jamieson Laboratories offers a range of products containing Vitamin D to help meet your dietary needs. Along with individual Vitamin D products (available in potencies of 400 IU and 1000 IU), Vitamin D is also found in Jamieson's high quality Vita-Vim multivitamin and Calcium supplements.

Jamieson uses only Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), the more bioavailable form of vitamin D and identical to the one that is naturally produced in the body when our skin is exposed to sunlight.

Other studies published recently have also helped to shine light on many other purported health benefits of this vitamin. Their respective results found that Vitamin D may be beneficial in preventing breast(2), prostate(2), colon(2), ovarian(2) and colorectal cancers(3), may provide higher bone-mineral content in children(4), and may decrease women's chances of developing multiple sclerosis(4).

Vitamin D from Jamieson Laboratories is formulated from natural sources and is pharmaceutically tested to guarantee full potency and absolute clinical purity.

Established in 1922, Jamieson Laboratories is Canada's largest manufacturer and distributor of advanced natural health care products.

Jamieson's state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing laboratories are located in Windsor, Ontario. The company is a world leader in the vitamin and nutrition industry, exporting to over 45 countries including the USA, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore.

For more information, please visit the Jamieson Laboratories website at www.jamiesonvitamins.com.

References

1. Halcyon Skinner et al. "Vitamin D intake and the risk for pancreatic cancer in two cohort studies." Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2006; 15:1688-1695.

2. Garland CF, Garland FC, Gorham ED, Lipkin M, Newmark H, Mohr SB, Holick MF. The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention. Am J Pub Health ahead of print December 27, 2005; 102105/AJPH.2004.045260.

3. Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, Grant WB, Mohr SB, Lipkin M, Newmark HL, Giovannucci E, Wei M, Holick MF. Vitamin D and the prevention of colorectal cancer. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005; 97(1-2): 179-194.

4. Javaid MK, Crozier SR, Harvey NC, Gale CR, Dennison EM, Boucher BJ, Arden NK, Godfrey KM, Cooper C. Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and childhood bone mass at age 9 years: a longitudinal study. The Lancet. 2006; 367: 36-43.

For further information: Stephanie Blok, Jamieson Laboratories, (416) 960-0052, sblok@jamiesonlabs.com; Brigitte Cote, Jamieson Laboratories, (416) 960-0052, bcote@jamiesonlabs.com