Cancer: American surveys show vitamin D helps prevent breast and colorectal cancer
By Lucy Quinton
Consuming vitamin D could protect against two forms of cancer, two new surveys have found.
According to research led by cancer prevention specialists at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, a patient's chances of suffering from breast or colorectal cancer may be offset by consuming vitamin D.
The findings from the first study, published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, found that clients with the highest blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were at the lowest risk of suffering from breast cancer.
The second study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, also found evidence of a link between high levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and a lower cancer risk.
According to the publication, previous studies indicated that a low dose of vitamin D did not protect against colorectal cancer, but a meta-analysis indicated that a higher dose may reduce its incidence.
The research suggested a combination of improved diet, vitamin supplements and brief exposure to sunlight could have a significant impact on the incidence of both cancer types.
However, commenting on the findings, Dr Karol Sikora, professor of cancer medicine and honorary consultant oncologist at Hammersmith Hospital, said: "There is a definite relationship between vitamin D and cancer, but simply taking more of it has no real benefit I'm afraid."
Henry Scowcroft, cancer information officer at Cancer Research UK, also erred on the side of caution, adding: "The general consensus is that there's still some way to go before we fully understand the link between a person's vitamin D levels and their risk of cancer."
He added that excessive exposure to sunlight could lead to skin cancer, so people wanting to increase their vitamin D levels through sun exposure should be careful. Scowcroft said: "According to this and other research, the time in the sun needed to top up your vitamin D is much lower than the time needed to get tanned or burnt."
The latest findings were published after it emerged in autumn last year that taking vitamin D tablets also reduced the risk of pancreatic cancer.
The research, published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, showed taking the recommended daily intake of vitamin D reduced the risk of pancreatic cancer by 43%.
