There is growing evidence that low levels of vitamin D are linked to a number of cancers. New research presented at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research shows that women who were diagnosed with more aggressive or later-stage breast cancers were more likely to have very low levels of vitamin D. Women who had a deficiency of this nutrient were eight times more likely to have their tumors spread. African-American women were especially likely to have very low levels of vitamin D. That’s because it takes longer for darker skin to manufacture adequate amounts of this vitamin. It is not clear that taking additional vitamin D as a supplement would reduce the risk of breast cancer, but there is a growing consensus that many people should be tested. If their levels are low, a supplement may be in order.
[AACR 2010, Abstract A79]
