Posted on 12/28/2005 3:04:37 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
A LARGE daily dose of vitamin D can lower the risk of common cancers by as much as 50 per cent, scientists say.
Researchers reported in the American Journal of Public Health that the natural form of the vitamin, D3, can dramatically reduce the chances of developing breast, ovarian and colon cancer, as well as others.
Taking 1000 international units of the vitamin daily could lower an individual's cancer risk by 50 per cent, they said.
But such large doses must be treated with caution. More than 2000 units a day can lead to absorbing excessive calcium that could damage the liver and kidneys.
D3 is normally produced in the skin by sunlight, but is also obtained from certain foods.
Dietary sources are limited, however. A glass of milk, for instance, contains only 100 units of the vitamin.
Survival rates for Afro-Caribbean people with certain cancers are lower than for white people, possibly because dark skins are not as good at making vitamin D.
The US researchers carried out a review of 63 studies.
Buggered if I know!
Of course it can because the breasts, ovaries and colon are usually covered and protected from the sun.
But seriously, as one who has had a few bouts with basil cell carcinoma I'd suggest avoiding long periods exposed to the sun.
As a teen I regularly had serious sunburns. Starting at the age of 29, I have had over a dozen basal cell carcinomas removed. I had Moh's surgery for a squamous cell carcinoma in the mid- 1990's. I have spent most of 2005 undergoing surgery & interferon treatment for melanoma. I am 53 years old and if I had a way of posting photographs, would insert a 8 X 10 color glossy of the "wide local excision" done on the right side of my face. I think a few young people might think twice about spending hours at a tanning booth if they knew the truth about the potential consequences!
They've actually done a study that shows people that get sunbured get skin cancer, but people who sit out in the sun for a living (e.g., lifeguards) --- and get deep tans and plenty of Vit D as a result --- don't.
Also, the sunscreen used in the USA does nothing to keep out the actual cancer-causing stuff.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.