Diet and Sunlight Linked to Breast Cancer Risk
from Dr. Mercola
A study of eating patterns across different countries confirms an association between breast cancer sunlight exposure which may be protective against the disease by elevating the body’s vitamin D supply.
In the study, researchers looked at dietary supply data for a number of countries in North and South America, Asia and Europe. Such data reflects only the supply of food in a given country, and not the food intakes of different people. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet-B (UV-B) rays was estimated based on a country’s latitude.
As for the role of sunlight, researchers found an association between latitude and breast cancer suggesting that higher UV-B exposure was protective. UV-B rays spur the production of vitamin D in the body, it is likely the vitamin is behind the association he found in this study. Other research suggests vitamin D may help ward off cancer.
Cancer January 1, 2002;94:272-281
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DR. MERCOLA’S COMMENT:
The evidence is becoming quite compelling that sun exposure that causes us to make vitamin D will help lower the risk of many cancers, including some of the most common ones around, breast and prostate cancer.
Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin, but a steroid hormone precursor that is primarily formed when our skin is exposed to sunshine.
Women who limit their exposure to sunshine will have lower vitamin D levels and an increased risk of breast cancer, in addition to an increased risk of osteoporosis.
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