Interesting case study on Vitamin D (and other supplements) in pancreatic cancer

[lpas]

I happened across this article today, only because the lead author is a local oncologist I once saw for a second opinion. He's a pretty mainstream guy and not terribly open to the idea of supplements, so I found it particularly interesting that he would publish something like this.

The article describes an 83-year-old woman who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but wasn't able to tolerate traditional chemo. She decided to pursue a complementary/alternative approach that included a super-dose of 50,000 IU/day in vitamin D3, plus sporadic use of "chelidonium (celandine), curcumin, a community mushroom blend, viscosin, and naltrexone". Eight months later a follow-up CT showed disease stability (with possibly even a bit of shrinkage?). Her Vitamin D level was tested at >150 ng/mL.

http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/crpc.2016.0003

Obviously this was pancreatic cancer rather than CRC and it's strictly an observational study but I thought the write-up was interesting nonetheless. I'll admit to knowing very little about chelidonium, viscosin or naltrexone (and fully admit that the cancer world is full of shady operators hawking pseudo-"cures") but I continue to be a firm believer in the power of a carefully-targeted supplement regimen to augment the effects of conventional treatment and improve outcomes (e.g. slower growth, longer NED periods, etc).

[H is for Hawk]

Conventional wisdom is that serum vitamin D levels (greater than) >100 ng/mL is detrimental to the immune system. Your story implies this is not always the case.

[radnyc]

Have taken 5000 or 10000 units daily since diagnosis. No side effects, will continue forever.

[canadiandaughter]

My dads general pratictioner wanted him to take the vitamin D3 in excessive amounts, but the article he showed us also required vitamin K which I believe dad couldnt have on blood thinners. He swore by it and was upset when we said he wasnt going to do it.

[Nik Colon]

Have taken 5000 or 10000 units daily since diagnosis. No side effects, will continue forever.

But the article is about 50,000 D3 per day

[radnyc]

My goal is to keep my blood 25(OH)D blood test at an optimal level, between 70-100 ng/mL, and that's what I need to take.

[rp1954]

Nice find lpas.

... a super-dose of 50,000 IU/day in vitamin D3, plus sporadic use of "chelidonium (celandine), curcumin, a community mushroom blend, viscosin, and naltrexone". ...CT showed disease stability (with possibly even a bit of shrinkage?). Her Vitamin D level was tested at >150 ng/mL.
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/crpc.2016.0003

According to endocrinologist Joe Prendergast, MD (now retired in his 80s), the 50,000 iu/day vitamin D3 dosage (+ vitamin K2 as MK4) is supposed to yield a peak blood level ca 1200 ng/mL, which the body will then self regulate the blood level down over time but still enhance immune responses to tumors.

During the transient, hopefully some tumor masses will disappear immunologically and then help maintain their absence.

Conventional wisdom is that serum vitamin D levels (greater than) >100 ng/mL is detrimental to the immune system.

I would suspect an adulterated vitamin D product (e.g. modern fish derived A&D products add cheap, gross quantities of vitamin A), a D2 formula, or an imbalanced application (inadequate magnesium or vitamin K or something else) for that "conventional wisedom".

As a practical matter, most people can tolerate the 50,000 iu vitamin D3 daily dose indefinitely if they control their calcium levels.

My dads general pratictioner wanted him to take the vitamin D3 in excessive amounts, but the article he showed us also required vitamin K which I believe dad couldnt have on blood thinners. He swore by it and was upset when we said he wasnt going to do it.

Vitamin K's are antagonists for warfarin. The other thinners, not so. I would ask for his other recommendations for nutrient chemistry and monitoring with the vitamin D3 written down. Study it, and ask around. If it enables you to disintegrate even one set or site of tumors and/or mildly shift the immune and chemo effects for a net improvement, it's big progress. And cheap.

[dudette]

While I have been taking 5,000 a day for years, I haven't tried a high dose regime since having been diagnosed. Thanks for highlighting this option. I will give it a try.

Legacy Health System is conducting a pilot study with high dose supplementation. Though I am not sure whether it's 50,000 IU weekly or daily. The description had me confused because it mentions both:

Effectiveness of High Dose Vitamin D Supplementation in Stage III Colorectal Cancer
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02603757

[rp1954]

...I will give it a try.
It is best to recruit a medical practitioner to start, to support and monitor you, preferably experienced in the subject area. Somebody needs to study and take responsibility for the treatment. Although the major caveats are finite, a screwup could petrify the wrong thing... If anything gets strange, a professional who is already familiar with you, your story and your meds+supplements, is more than just a good idea.

[dudette]

Haha. Thanks for your concern and of course you are right. But I have tried many a times to find an oncologist, who is willing to look beyond chemotherapy. I'm getting stone-walled left, right, center. Everyone giving me the sad look that there is no hope and even telling me that I need to accept what is and stop trying. Since I can't afford a naturopath I am carefully learning by imitation. I know that it's not the best option but it's all I got.

[Marylandmaniac]

I know NIH has been and is doing studies of Vitamin D3. There is on now recruiting that people do 10,000 IUs a day. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT ... +D3&rank=8


I personally do 6k IU of Vitamin D3 and also taking Turkey tail mushroom. I know there are studies with that especially with breast cancer. https://bastyr.edu/news/general-news/20 ... r-patients

I also take Modified Citrus Pectin each day. I personally like the lime flavor, you just have to mix it really well.
I also take Cimetidine (Tagamet) which many members on here recommend.

I talked to my doctor about these and he was fine with it. He said doctors don't know everything (that is why I love him) and he said as long as it isn't going to hurt me he is okay with it. His office also has a nutritionist that I was able to see free of charge. She recommended the book "The Definitive Guide to Cancer" by Lise Alschuler and Karolyn Gazella. I ordered it on Amazon used so it was pretty cheap. It even give recommendations based on what chemo drug you are on and what to take to help reduce side effects.

[dianetavegia]

Labcorp's new high norm is 100nl.

[Nik Colon]

Just a couple links about excessive vitamin D, such as taking 50k per day..

Taking 50,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to cause toxicity.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifes ... q-20058108

For most people, vitamin D toxicity only occurs with Vitamin D doses above 10,000 IU per day.

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001594.htm

Excessive amounts of vitamin D in the body can cause calcium levels in the blood to rise. This can lead to a condition called hypercalcemia (too much calcium in your blood)

Too much vitamin D can cause abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood. This can affect bones, tissues, and other organs. It can lead to high blood pressure, bone loss, and kidney damage without treatment.

http://www.healthline.com/health/hyperv ... #Overview1

Just wanted to include this info so people are cautious

[Marylandmaniac]

Great point Nik. My doctor and nutritionist said the same thing about high levels of D3. I had my level checked during previous blood test and it was good. SO for me 6k works well. I had to request the test though because it was not part of my normal blood work.