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1: Am J Public Health. 2006 Feb;96(2):252-61. Epub 2005 Dec 27.Click here to read Click here to read Links

The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention.

Garland CF, Garland FC, Gorham ED, Lipkin M, Newmark H, Mohr SB, Holick MF.

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, 0631C, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0631, USA. cgarland@ucsd.edu

Vitamin D status differs by latitude and race, with residents of the northeastern United States and individuals with more skin pigmentation being at increased risk of deficiency. A PubMed database search yielded 63 observational studies of vitamin D status in relation to cancer risk, including 30 of colon, 13 of breast, 26 of prostate, and 7 of ovarian cancer, and several that assessed the association of vitamin D receptor genotype with cancer risk.The majority of studies found a protective relationship between sufficient vitamin D status and lower risk of cancer. The evidence suggests that efforts to improve vitamin D status, for example by vitamin D supplementation, could reduce cancer incidence and mortality at low cost, with few or no adverse effects.

PMID: 16380576 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC1470481