June 12, 2012 marks the second day of International Men’s Health Week, sponsored by Men’s Health Network. The purpose of Men’s Health Week is to increase awareness about preventable health problems among men and boys and to encourage early detection and treatment.
Vitamin D and men’s health
Vitamin D plays an important role in men’s health! Did you know that vitamin D boosts testosterone levels? Did you know that vitamin D helps in prostate cancer and heart disease?
Prostate cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer among men over the age of 75. And, prostate cancer has been one of the most researched topics in vitamin D! Researchers were initially interested in the two when they observed that sun exposure decreases the risk of prostate cancer.
But since then, research has come along much further. Just this past year, a team of doctors discovered that 4,000 IU/day helped men with low-risk prostate cancer, lowering their Gleason score and number of “positive cores.
Men are also at a higher risk for heart disease. Men ages 35-64 are about four times more likely than women to die from heart disease. Observational studies suggest low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. A recent study published last month suggests higher vitamin D levels can lower the risk of dying from heart disease.
Finally, vitamin D boosts testosterone levels! In a randomized controlled trial, 3,300 IU/day of vitamin D increased testosterone levels by 30-40%. In men, testosterone is important for reproduction tissues like the testis and prostate, and it’s also important for key masculine features like increased muscle, bone mass, and the growth of body hair.”
How can you help?
To help increase awareness about preventable men’s health problems, you can organize an event, or simply talk to the men in your life about the facts and importance of getting check up’s. Be sure to discuss vitamin D! To download print materials and to learn more about men’s health week, visit Men’s Health Network: http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/
Source: Vitamin D Council Newsletter
Tags: men's health, vitamin D