3 Keys to Lower Cancer Risk, Reduce Recurrence, and Improve Outcomes

Published on October 10, 2023

Research clearly shows the benefits associated with vitamin D, diets with balanced pro and anti-inflammatory fatty acids, and exercise

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At GrassrootsHealth, we believe there is no better way to support the cause than to share research about what can be done to help lower your risk of breast cancer (and other cancers), reduce recurrence, and improve outcomes in case of diagnosis. Help us bring awareness to breast cancer PREVENTION all month long by participating in and sharing the research!

Two studies reviewed below illustrate the importance of 3 key components to reducing cancer risk and improving outcomes among breast cancer survivors:

• Vitamin D: We have previously reviewed research showing that 80% of breast cancer could potentially be prevented just by achieving a vitamin D level of at least 60 ng/ml (150 nmol/L). Vitamin D can help even after a breast cancer diagnosis… in fact, one study found that when looking at the direct relationship between vitamin D level and breast cancer fatality, the vitamin D level accounted for 97% of the variance (meaning it made almost all the difference)
• Diets that Increase Omega-3s, Decrease Omega-6s: Having higher levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3s can counteract the pro-inflammatory influence of omega-6s and their production of inflammatory signals, therefore reducing inflammation.  It is also thought that increasing omega-3s in the cell membrane may help disrupt the signals that lead to cancer development (called an oncogenic protein). Creating this balance can be done through diet (such as the Mediterranean Diet) and supplementation.
• Exercise! Increasing physical activity is recommended to help prevent and improve outcomes for nearly all chronic diseases, including cancer. It has been shown to improve the quality of life, extend cancer survival, and reduce treatment-related side effects.

Each of the above contributes to lower inflammation and improved immune function – which are essential to fighting cancer. Additional nutrients of importance are magnesium, selenium, vitamin C, and others.  To measure your current immune and inflammation status, order the Immune Boost Panel Test Kit to see what levels could be improved to help support your immune system – for fighting cancer to COVID and many other diseases.

Order the Immune Boost Panel Test Kit Here

SHARE THE RESEARCH!

Vitamin D Supplementation Resulted in Lower Risk of Invasive Cancer, with Additional Benefits from Omega-3s and Exercise

The DO-HEALTH trial, conducted by Bischoff-Ferrari et al., enrolled 2,157 healthy and active adults, 70 years of age or older. This randomized controlled trial aimed to test the effects of the individual or combined treatments of 2000 IU/day of supplemental vitamin D3, 1g/day of supplemental omega-3 fatty acids, and/or a simple home strength exercise program (SHEP). Average time of follow up was around 3 years, during which 81 cases of invasive cancer were diagnosed and verified.

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Based on an analysis adjusted for several variables including BMI, compared to participants in the non-treatment groups, the risk of invasive cancer diagnosis for participants without a history of cancer was decreased by

• 34% among those receiving only vitamin D (p=.09)
• 26% among those receiving only omega-3 fatty acids (p=.214)
• 28% among those given the home strength exercise program (SHEP) (p=.18)
• 51% among those given both vitamin D and omega-3 supplements (p=.04)
• 53% among those given both vitamin D and SHEP (p=.03)
• 47% among those given both omega-3s and SHEP (p=.07)
• 65% among those given all 3 treatments (p=.01)

This study shows that, while the dose of vitamin D supplementation was below what would get the majority of the population to the recommended 40-60 ng/ml range, supplementation still resulted in a decreased cancer risk, and was more effective when combined with omega-3 supplements, exercise, or both.

Study Shows Increasing Vitamin D, Exercising, and Eating an Anti-Inflammatory Diet also Improves Life for Breast Cancer Survivors

Many cancer survivors report a reduced quality of life, including decreased physical functioning and increased pain, which in turn has been shown to negatively affect treatment compliance and disease outcome. Montagnese et al. evaluated the quality of life among 227 breast cancer survivors (average age of 52 years, 96% postmenopausal) who had participated a 12-month lifestyle modification program that included the Mediterranean diet, exercise, and vitamin D supplementation. The Mediterranean Diet has been shown to lower inflammation levels and help reduce cancer. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids are central to the Mediterranean diet.

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At the end of the 12 months, 87% of participants maintained high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 37% remained physically active (measured as greater than 7500 steps per day), and 70% of participants reached a vitamin D level of at least 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L). After participating in the program, participants experienced increases in global health status, physical health status, social and role functioning, body image, future perspective, and well-being. They also experienced reductions in fatigue, digestive issues, systematic side effects from therapy, and breast symptoms.

The authors found that changes in breast symptoms were inversely related to vitamin D levels (p=0.002).

Take Action Today and Measure Your Levels!

Based on the findings presented above and those of many other studies, measuring your levels of vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, and omega-3s may help determine if more of these nutrients might be needed to provide the greatest risk reduction for breast cancer and improve outcomes in the case of a breast cancer diagnosis.

The Immune Boost Panel Test Kit includes each of these measurements:

• Vitamin D
• Omega-3 Index
• Magnesium PLUS Elements
• hsCRP as a marker of inflammation

Get the Inflammation Panel Here

Order Any Other Test Here

Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D levels and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for the future. Enroll and test your levels today, learn what steps to take to improve your status of vitamin D (see below) and other nutrients and blood markers, and take action! By enrolling in the GrassrootsHealth projects, you are not only contributing valuable information to everyone, you are also gaining knowledge about how you could improve your own health through measuring and tracking your nutrient status, and educating yourself on how to improve it.

How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?

Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!

STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health

STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study

STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there

STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)

Enroll in D*action and Build Your Custom Test Kit!

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