How to reduce the risk of cancer in old age? Three items are enough. The combination of high doses of vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acids and a simple home strength exercise program is associated with a 70% reduction in cancer risk in people aged 61 or older, reports the latest issue of Frontiers in Aging.
Cancer is killing the elderly
This is the first study in the world to test a combination of affordable and easy-to-apply interventions to prevent invasive types of cancer. According to the authors, its results may influence the future of cancer prevention in the elderly.
Cancer is now considered the major age-related disease in Europe and the US. It is also the second most common cause of death in the elderly, and the likelihood of developing most cancers increases over the years.
According to Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari of the University Hospital in Zurich, in addition to the usual preventive recommendations, such as not smoking or conscientiously protecting from the sun, there are few interventions that focus on cancer prevention. – Today’s preventive measures aimed at middle-aged and elderly people are largely limited to screening tests and vaccinations – says the researcher who is the main author of the new publication.
It resembles previous studies that showed that vitamin D3 can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Similarly, omega-3 acids have a similar effect, which are able to inhibit the transformation of normal cells in our body into cancer cells. It has also long been known that adequate physical activity improves immune function and reduces inflammation in the body, which also helps prevent cancer.
Reishi mushroom extract – a powdered dietary supplement containing beta-glucans that protects the body against the harmful effects of free radicals, may be helpful in preventing the development of cancer.
It is enough to combine three elements
However, there has been a lack of reliable clinical trials supporting the effectiveness of these three interventions: both individually and in combination.
To fill this knowledge gap, Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari and her colleagues tested the effects of daily intake of high doses of vitamin D3, omega-3 supplements, and a simple home exercise program on the risk of developing invasive cancer in adults aged 70 years or older. The effectiveness of all these interventions was checked separately and in various combinations.
They designed a large three-year study they called DO-HEALTH. They conducted them simultaneously in five European countries (Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria and Portugal) with a total of 2157 participants.
All test persons were randomly assigned to eight different groups. The first one received 2000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, 1g of omega-3 fatty acids and was supposed to perform easy strength training three times a week. The second group only got vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids. The participants from the third group took only vitamin D and performed trainings, while those from the fourth group received omega acids and performed trainings. Group five was prescribed only high doses of vitamin D3, group six – omega-3 fatty acids, and group seven – exercise only. The last group – the eighth – received a placebo.
The participants’ health was monitored for three years by performing standardized tests.
After that, it turned out that the combination of all three prophylactic methods brought great benefits in the field of invasive cancer prevention.
As for the single action, it was not spectacular: each “therapy” applied individually brought very little benefit. But when all three treatments were combined, the benefits became clear and we saw an overall reduction in cancer risk of 61%. – emphasize the authors of the study.
You can find natural vitamin D3 in capsules at Medonet Market. You can also choose vitamin D3 lozenges or liquid vitamin D3. Vitamin D can also be taken as a spray. Order eg DLux – Vitamin D Spray 4000 IU BetterYou.
In their opinion, the obtained results may have a significant impact on the future of invasive cancer prevention in the elderly. “This is the first ever randomized and controlled trial to show that a combination of daily vitamin D3 supplementation, omega-3 fatty acids, and a simple exercise program can be effective in preventing cancer in a population of generally healthy people over the age of 70,” comments Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari.
Author Katarzyna Czechowicz
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