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Vitamin D vs cancer

By Pamela Allardice
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Photos by Getty Images

If you need a good reason to get your daily dose of Vitamin D — then nothing beats this!

Here's a good reason to get a daily dose of at least 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): it lowers your risk of developing certain cancers, notably colon, breast and ovarian cancer, by up to 50 per cent. Cancer prevention specialists at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California are calling for a public health campaign to increase intake of vitamin D3 as an inexpensive tool to prevent diseases that claim lives each year.

Co-author of the study, Professor Cedric F. Garland, says, “The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, combined with the discovery of increased risks of certain types of cancer in those who are deficient, suggest that vitamin D deficiency may account for several thousand premature deaths from colon, breast, ovarian and other cancers annually."

Good food sources of vitamin D include salmon, milk, fortified margarine and cereals and eggs. If you prefer to supplement, look for a product that contains cholecalciferol, which is the most potent form of vitamin D; cod liver oil is also an excellent choice, and odourless forms are now available.

How do you ensure you get enough Vitamin D? Tell us below...

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