A major new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) shows that people with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood are at reduced risk of developing colon cancer.
The BMJ study draws on one of the biggest ever pieces of research done on cancer — the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) project, carried out in 10 Western European countries.
The report show that patients with the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood had a nearly 40 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to those with the lowest levels.
However the report’s authors are cautious on the question of whether supplementation is the best route to boost vitamin D levels. They say further research is needed to establish if basic dietary improvements and increased exposure to sunlight would be sufficient.
