According to research by American scientists, men with low vitamin D levels in their bodies are at a higher risk of developing cancer and dying from it, particularly cancers affecting the digestive system.
 |
| Sunlight – a precious source of Vitamin D (Photo: macdesktops) |
This study was published in a recent issue of the National Cancer Institute’s specialized journal.
From 1986 to 2000, scientists investigated 4,286 cases of men diagnosed with cancer and 2,025 cases of cancer-related deaths.
The results showed that when blood levels of vitamin D increased to 25 nmol/L (1 nmol/L is equivalent to 1 part per billion molecular grams/liter), the cancer incidence rate decreased by 17%, and the cancer mortality rate dropped by 29%. Notably, the risk of digestive system cancers decreased by as much as 45%.
Overall, the cancer rate among men with low vitamin D levels was 758 per 100,000 cases, compared to 674 per 100,000 for those with higher vitamin D levels.
The cancer mortality rates for these two groups were 326 per 100,000 and 277 per 100,000, respectively, while the mortality rates for digestive cancers were 128 per 100,000 and 78 per 100,000.
This research supports the view that sunlight can help prevent the development of various cancers in humans, as sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D.
