Cancer
Lab study demonstrates anti-cancer properties of vitamin D2
By David Liu, Ph. D.
Apr 7, 2008 - 9:56:01 AM

MONDAY April 7, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study by researchers in Taiwan and published online on April 3 in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found ergocalciferol or vitamin D2 was able to inhibit leukemia cell growth in a dose-dependent manner.

For the study, Wei-Jen Chen and colleagues from Chung Shan Medical University and other academic institutions in Taiwan tested vitamin D2 in HL-60 cells and found the vitamin induced DNA fragmentation and increased sub-G1 DNA contents, suggesting it may promote apoptosis.

Cancer cells keep growing because a cellular function known as apoptosis or programmed cell death is missing in cancerous cells.  Increased apoptosis could inhibit cancer cell growth.

Chen and colleagues found vitamin D2 caused apoptosis probably through a reactive oxygen species (ROS) dependent pathway.  

They further found the vitamin also led to an increase in pro-apoptotic factor Bax and decreased anti-apoptotic member Mcl-1.  A Fas-mediated pathway may also be involved in the vitamin D induced apoptosis.

The researcher concluded "these findings suggest that ergocalciferol (vitamin D) causes HL-60 apoptosis via a modulation of mitochondria involving ROS production, GSH depletion, caspase activation, and Fas induction. On the basis of anticancer activity of ergocalciferol, it may be feasible to develop chemopreventive agents from edible mushrooms or hop."