At an April 2006 cancer conference, evidence was presented that the
risk of breast cancer was reduced by 50% when vitamin D in the blood was 52
nanograms per milliliter, which equals to no less than 1000 international units (IU)
of vitamin D every day whether in the diet or in supplements. The average person
only gets 310 IU a day. (Evidence of Need for Increasing Dietary Vitamin D in Food.
Abstract 4008 - AACR Conference.) It is believe that part of the protective role Vitamin D plays is through its ablility to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells as well as blocking excessive blood vessel formation around the tumor.
In the 1990's a group of scientists from UCSD found that women in the sunniest regions of the USA were about half as likely to die from breast cancer as were women who lived in less sunny regions. They also looked at the USSR, before that country dissolved, and found that women who lived in the sunniest regions were three times less likely to develop breast cancer than those women who lived in areas with lower amount of sunlight.
Vitamin D's role in better health has been known for well over a decade but somehow the infomation hasn't really gotten out. Having a bit of good ole sun shine (within reason) is just plain healthy. So enjoy your summer and in the foggy parts take a good dose of Vitamin D.
