Daily doses of vitamin D could cut cancer rates worldwide, experts claim

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 19:48

VITAMIN D could drastically cut cancer and supplements should be offered to the public as part of a nationwide health drive, experts have found.

Research has revealed that taking daily supplements of the vitamin, known as "bottled sunshine" could do more for cancer prevention than many other lifestyle measures.

Studies have revealed vitamin D could cut breast cancer cases by a quarter and bowel cancer by a third.

It is also thought to help prevent other conditions including heart disease, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Vitamin D is available in very few foods but is produced in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. However the dangers of sun exposure, including skin cancer, mean supplements are considered far safer.

The UK's gloomy climate and long winter mean many people are deficient in vitamin D between October and March.

The Scottish Government is now taking expert advice over vitamin D after Dr Harry Burns, the Chief Medical Officer, attended a conference at which international experts recommended randomised trials to be established in the wake of strong evidence that increased intake could improve health.

And scientists at the University of Edinburgh have been awarded a 225,000 grant to investigate the link between low levels of vitamin D in Scotland and incidence of bowel cancer.

Experts are examining whether the current recommended daily intake should be increased from around 200 international units a day (5 mcg) to 2,000 units (50mcg).

In the UK, official policy is that sun exposure and a diet including oily fish and eggs are sufficient to achieve required daily levels, however, too much sun exposure is damaging to the skin

But in the Annals of Epidemiology, Professor Cedric Garland, of the University of California, said a 50mg dose of vitamin D daily would prevent an estimated 200,000 cases of breast cancer and 250,000 of bowel cancer worldwide.

Oliver Gillie, of the Health Research Forum, said yesterday: "We know what vitamin D does, and there is a very plausible biological hypothesis for how it works. The amount of research on other supplements is nothing like as great as that on vitamin D."

The Canadian Cancer Society has already called for a daily vitamin D supplement of 25mg for the whole country in winter and for northern parts that get little sun in summer as well. However last year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer called for a major trial to prove the safety and efficacy of vitamin D. It was warned that high levels of vitamin D in blood samples may not prevent cancer but instead may simply be a sign of a healthy lifestyle.