Vitamin D Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

According to a new Research Study carried out by K M Blackmore & colleagues, Mount Sinai Hospital, Ontario, Canada and published in American Journal of Epidemiology, intake of vitamin D through diet and exposure to the sun was associated with a 24% reduced risk of estrogen-receptor(ER)- and progesterone-receptor(PR)-defined breast cancer.

The researchers compared 758 cases of breast cancer and 1,135 controls without the disease and found those who had high intake of vitamin D were also found to have a 26% reduced risk of ER or PR breast cancer and a 21% decreased risk of ER or PR tumors. The study also suggests that vitamin D is associated with a reduce risk of breast cancer regardless of ER/PR status of the tumor.

Vitamin D is found in a limited number of foods including oily fish, fortified foods such as juices, cereals and milk and most is conveniently synthesized after an individual is exposed to sunshine.

Reference:
Source: American Journal of Epidemiology