Nutrition and Cancer

		Jo Ann Carson, PhD, RD/LD Section Editor, Nutrition & Cancer Section Editor, Nutrition & Cardiovascular Disease Professor , Department of Clinical Nutrition UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Preventing Cancer Death - Vitamin D
Posted: January 2006
Source: UT Southwestern Health Watch

Vitamin D's main role is keeping bones strong by maintaining a balance between calcium and phosphorus in the blood, but it also helps regulate cell growth. A deficiency could allow cells to become cancerous."

People with lower levels of vitamin D had a greater risk for developing cancer. You get vitamin D either through your diet or from sun exposure. People who live in areas with less sun, those who don't get outside much and those with dark skin may not get adequate vitamin D from the sun. Elderly people are also at risk because age diminishes the ability to convert vitamin D to a usable form, and obese people may have trouble metabolizing vitamin D through fatty tissues.

Most adults can meet their vitamin D needs with two glasses of fortified milk a day. Those older than 50 may need to take a supplement. Taking a daily walk outside in sunlight will also help.