• 1/2/2006
  • California
  • Christian Nordqvist
  • Medical News Today (www.medicalnewstoday.com)

If you want to lower your chances of developing cancer you should increase your intake of vitamin D, say researchers from the University of California. High vitamin D intake is associated with significantly lower risks of developing cancer of the colon, ovary and breast, say the researchers.

The team, led by Dr C Garland, looked at 63 different studies dating from 1966 to 2004. Their conclusion is that the link is too strong to ignore. They even went as far as to say that nothing else protects you from cancer so effectively.

You can read about this study in the American Journal of Public Health.

The researchers say an enormous number of cancers can be attributed to not enough vitamin D.

The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. If you do not have access to sunlight all year round, as is the case in many northern countries, the researchers advise taking a supplement – raising your intake to 1000 IUs (international units) per day.