More vitamin D could mean lower cancer risk

More vitamin D could mean lower cancer risk


More vitamin D in your body could mean a lower risk of cancer. That’s the upshot of a study that examined whether vitamin D was associated with overall and site-specific cancer risks.

Researchers in Japan studied the medical histories, diets and lifestyles of more than 33,000 people between the ages of 40 and 69. The participants also gave blood samples to establish vitamin D levels and were then monitored for an average of 16 years.

After adjusting for known cancer risk factors, the researchers found higher vitamin D levels were associated with a 30 to 50 percent lower risk of liver cancer — with the most pronounced effect in men. Overall, higher vitamin D levels were linked to a 20 percent lower cancer risk for men and women. The findings were published in the journal The BMJ.

Vitamin D is produced by the skin in response to sunlight. It helps to maintain your body’s level of calcium, which is crucial for healthy teeth, muscles and bones. While vitamin D is available in supplements, ask your doctor before using them because it’s possible to get too much of it.

Researchers say the conclusions support the idea that vitamin D may protect against cancer even if there’s also a limit to its effects, meaning there may not be additional health benefits beyond a certain dose. Next, researchers want to find out the optimal amount of vitamin D for cancer prevention.

So, if you have some milk in the fridge, drink up … spend some more time in the sun … or ask your doctor about supplements. From preventing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease to helping your body ward off cancer, the benefits of vitamin D are many.

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