September, 2008

New research indicates that high prostate cancer rates among African American men are tied to low Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D levels are directly related to the amount of sunlight a person receives. Vitamin D levels affect the uptake of other essential vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins and calcium. The recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D is 1000 iu. Natural Vitamin D3 is found in cod liver oil.

  From CNN News:

Studies focus on racial
links to cancer

Institute urges closer
look at cultural clues

In this story:

'Special populations'
Call to boost research
Related stories and sites

January 21, 1999
Web posted at: 12:44 p.m. EDT (1644 GMT)

BARNESVILLE, Georgia (CNN) -- Across the country,
medical researchers are focusing on African-American
men to try to pinpoint genetic links to prostate cancer.

It is one of the most common forms of cancer in men, with
the highest rates among those of African descent --
whether they live in Africa or North America.

The Bush brothers of Barnesville, Georgia, are a dramatic
example of the way the disease can affect black families.

At one time there were six Bush brothers. Three have died
-- two from prostate cancer. The remaining three brothers
are all prostate cancer survivors, and they have joined in
a study to help fight the disease.

"If they can find something from us that will help
somebody else, we have to (participate). That was a
Sunday school lesson," Clarence Bush said.

"I want individuals to know that if they get to the urologist
in time, and if they get to the right urologist, it doesn't
necessarily mean a death sentence," W.R. Bush added.

By studying the Bush brothers, researchers hope they can
find a genetic link that will serve as a marker in
identifying those susceptible to prostate cancer.

"The implications are that we'll be able to identify
families that carry this gene, to be able to provide
counseling to them and, ultimately, we'll hopefully be able
to identify them very early if they develop prostate
cancer," said Dr. James Bennett of Emory University.

'Special
populations'

Meanwhile, the Institute of
Medicine issued a report on
Wednesday advising cancer
researchers to target not just
minority populations, but
regional and ethnic groups
within those minorities.

By looking closely at so-called "special populations,"
researchers can more accurately measure the impact of
"cultural and behavioral factors, beliefs, lifestyle patterns,
diet, environmental living conditions and other factors,"
said the institute, which advises the government on health
issues.

Collecting data on smaller, more specific, ethnic or
regional groups would allow researchers to sort out such
things as differences between blacks living in large cities
and those in rural Southern communities, according to the
report.

Call to boost research

At the same time, the report urged the National Institutes
of Health to increase its efforts to determine why
minorities are more prone to develop and die from certain
types of cancer.

Not only do black men suffer higher rates of prostate
cancer, Asians are more likely than Caucasians to
develop stomach and liver cancer. Studies also have
found that cervical cancer is higher among Hispanic and
Vietnamese-American women and that Alaska natives
have high rates of colon and rectal cancer.

"With the population becoming increasingly diverse, it is
critical that we learn why some ethnic minorities and the
medically underserved are more prone to cancer and less
likely to survive it," said M. Alfred Haynes, chairman of
the committee that prepared the report.

The call for additional research was quickly endorsed by
the Intercultural Cancer Council, which lobbies for the
interests of minority cancer victims.

"This study confirms what we've known all along -- that
ethnic minorities and the medically underserved have not
shared equally in the nation's progress against cancer,"
said Lovell Jones, ICC co-chairman. "To reverse this
tragic imbalance, these recommendations must be acted
upon immediately."

Medical Correspondent Dan Rutz and The Associated
Press contributed to this report.

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