Vitamin D3

Overview

Vitamin D3,, also known as Activated 7-Dehydrocholesterol;  Calciol;  Cholecalciferol, is one of several forms of Vitamin D; functionally, it can be classed as a Hormone.

Other therapeutic uses of Vitamin D3 are listed in the topic for Vitamin D.

Immune System

 Vitamin D3 is under intensive investigation as a treatment for Cancer (it may cause many forms of Cancer Cells to differentiate into normal Cells and may cause Apoptosis (programmed Cell death) in some types of Cancer Cells):

 Vitamin D3 may be especially effective for causing Cancer - Breast Cells to differentiate into normal Cells.

 Vitamin D3 may induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) of Glioma cells by influencing genes that control the duration of Glioma cell replication.  ^[1]

 Vitamin D3 (4,000 IU per day) may help to treat Glioblastoma Multiforme.

 Vitamin D3 may help prevent (the promyelocytic form of) Leukemia (human Promyelocytic Leukemia cells cultured in the presence of Vitamin D3 for 3 years exhibited a reduction in tumor growth rate when subsequently injected into mice).  ^[2]

 Vitamin D3 may inhibit the proliferation of Cancer - Liver cells.  ^[3]

 Vitamin D3 may inhibit the proliferation of Melanoma cells.  ^[4]

 Vitamin D3 may be especially effective for causing Cancer - Prostate Cells to differentiate into normal Cells and also retards the increase in Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) in Prostate Cancer patients.  ^[5]