Previous studies have reported vitamin D supplements may reduce breast cancer risk but a new study, published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that calcium and vitamin-D supplements do not reduce breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal women.
More than 36,000 postmenopaused women were randomly assigned to take 1000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D daily or placebo. Researchers found that the incidence of breast cancer was similar in the supplement ( 528) and placebo ( 546) groups. The authors concluded that " the main findings do not support a causal realtionship between calcium and vitamin D supplement use and reduced breast cancer incidence".
In an accompanying editorial "Breast Cancer Prevention Using Calcium and Vitamin D: A Bright Future?" ( free f/t), the authors say that the study results may have been affected by multiple "important confounders" and that vitamin D and calcium may still have a "bright future" in breast cancer prevention and further studies will be needed.
Source: "Calcium Plus Vitamin D Supplementation and the Risk of Breast Cancer" Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Advance Access published online on November 11, 2008 JNCI, doi:10.1093/jnci/djn360
Showing posts with label vitamin D. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vitamin D. Show all posts
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Lack of sunlight may increase lung cancer risk
US researchers examined data from 111 countries to study the association between latitude, exposure to UVB light ( principal source of vitamin D) and rates of lung cancer.
Analysis of data showed that lung cancer rates were highest in those countries furthest from the equator where exposure to sunlight is lowest and lowest in those nearest. The researchers believed that vitamin D can halt tumor growth by promoting the factors responsible for cell death in the body. They found smoking accounted for up to 85% of all cases of lung cancer but exposure to UVB light in particular had an impact.
Experts warn that exposure to sunlight is the major cause of skin cancer and the link between vitamin D and lung cancer is still unclear. Source : "Could ultraviolet B irradiance and vitamin D be associated with lower incidence rates of lung cancer?" Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2008;62:69-74
Analysis of data showed that lung cancer rates were highest in those countries furthest from the equator where exposure to sunlight is lowest and lowest in those nearest. The researchers believed that vitamin D can halt tumor growth by promoting the factors responsible for cell death in the body. They found smoking accounted for up to 85% of all cases of lung cancer but exposure to UVB light in particular had an impact.
Experts warn that exposure to sunlight is the major cause of skin cancer and the link between vitamin D and lung cancer is still unclear. Source : "Could ultraviolet B irradiance and vitamin D be associated with lower incidence rates of lung cancer?" Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2008;62:69-74
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)