Understanding Zinc and Vitamin D

Many people think of zinc and vitamin D as two completely different nutrients. However, these two nutrients actually have a lot in common. For one, they’re both essential for good health. Zinc and vitamin D are both involved in immunity. Zinc is essential for the development and function of immune cells, while vitamin D helps to regulate the immune system. They’re also both important for bone health. Understanding zinc and vitamin D can have a positive impact on your health.

Zinc and Prostate Health: New Research

It has long been known that zinc is essential to the health of the prostate—the gland which produces zinc-rich seminal fluid. Indeed, cancerous prostate cells have in the past been shown to contain less zinc than healthy prostate cells. Now the US Agricultural Research Service has found that cancerous cells in the prostate appear to be less able to absorb zinc, which may lead to the spread of cancer in that gland ^[1]. This suggests, therefore, that extra zinc may help stop the proliferation of cancerous prostate cells, although this needs to be confirmed. Prostate cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer among European men, so not surprisingly there is much focus on investigating natural interventions, such as zinc supplementation, that might help prevent the disease.

Vitamin D, Sunlight, and Prostate Cancer Risk

Zinc is not the only nutrient which has been researched in relation to prostate cancer. A study published in Cancer Research found that high exposure to sunlight can actually decrease the risk of developing prostate cancer by as much as 65 per cent ^[2]. According to the researchers, this is because of the increase in vitamin D levels in the body as a result of exposure to sunshine. They do suggest that it may become advisable for men to take extra vitamin D in supplement form rather than increase their exposure to the potentially damaging effects of sunlight. Vitamin D is already known for its ability to promote the growth of normal prostate cells.

Solo Nutrition’s Vitamin D3 3200 IU (80µg) cholecalciferol is a quality formula which contributes to the maintenance of normal bones, teeth, muscle function, and immune function. Vitamin D aids the assimilation of the minerals calcium and phosphorus. Also, Solo Nutrition’s high-potency ZincFifty (50mg) is a very important mineral. Many nutritionists now prefer the citrate form of zinc to other types of zinc compounds because the citrate form is known to be easily absorbed.

References

1. “Does Zinc Fight Prostate Cancer?” – USDA Agricultural Research Service, 8 June 2005. Study led by geneticist Liping Huang at the ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, California.
2. “Exposure to Sunlight May Decrease Risk of Prostate Cancer” – Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, 15 June 2005. Study published in Cancer Research (June 15, 2005 issue) by Dr. Esther John (Northern California Cancer Center), Dr. Gary G. Schwartz (Wake Forest University), and colleagues.

Note: The zinc study was funded by the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the National Institutes of Health. The vitamin D study was supported by the Cancer Research Fund of the California Department of Health Services.