"Sunshine" Vitamin D Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

Nidhi Sharma
Women who get an adequate amount of vitamin D through daily exposure to the Sun are less likely to develop breast cancer as compared to women who do not, new studies suggests.

The "sunshine vitamin," when taken in high doses may cut the risk of breast cancer by 70%. Vitamin D is synthesized naturally in human body after the skin is exposed to the ultraviolet (UV) rays and lack of UV exposure is linked to higher risk of breast cancer.

A new study led by Garland FC and colleagues from the University of California San Diego showed there is an association between low ultraviolet irradiance and higher breast cancer risk. The study, which is published in the March 17, 2008 issue of Breast Journal also found high levels of vitamin D translated to a 50% lower risk of breast cancer.

The researchers concluded that "there was a protective effect of UVB irradiance on risk of breast cancer that was independent of fertility rate, proportion of the population overweight, alcohol intake, animal energy intake, and other covariates."

A second study by Canadian researchers, found that women who spent time outdoors or got a lot of vitamin D from their diets or supplements. This holds true especially for teens who were 25% to 45% less likely to develop breast cancer than women with less vitamin D.

Approximately 1,150,000 cases and 410,000 deaths from breast cancer occur annually worldwide, including 215,000 new cases and 41,000 deaths in the United States.

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