UPDATE - Issue 26 - Summer 2006
The case for Vitamin D
Two studies, presented in April 2006 at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, confirm the protective role of vitamin D for women. In the first, high levels of vitamin D translated to a greatly reduced risk of breast cancer. This would translate to 5,000 fewer cases a year if it were true for all British women.
The second study found that women who spent time outdoors or got a lot of vitamin D from their diets or supplements were a third less likely to develop breast cancer than women with less of the vitamin.
As ever, the corresponding research into male behaviour and prostate cancer has not been done. However, extrapolating from the results for the ladies indicates that an intake as high as 25µg may be needed to confer the best protection against cancer.
This is some five times higher than the Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamin D, which is based on what is needed for healthy bones. Many foods deliver vitamin D, especially oily fish, with eggs and milk good as well. 15 minutes sunshine a day might give a quarter of what is needed. But there is likely to be a shortfall so why not up one's Vitamin D intake with supplements that need not cost more than a few pence per day?
Also ...
A Prostate Cancer Charity poll explored male awareness of prostate cancer risk factors. Most men know that risk rises with age and that family history is important. But there are still 25% who have not yet grasped these facts.
Over 85% already claim to know that diet and body mass is important, which we find encouraging. But are they doing anything about it?