- Upping vitamin D levels may help to ward off breast cancer,
research has found.
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- Scientists at Birmingham University and St George's Hospital,
London, found breast tissue contains an enzyme that activates vitamin D.
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- Levels of the enzyme were elevated in breast tumours
- suggesting the vitamin is produced to try to combat the spread of cancer.
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- The research was presented at a meeting of the British
Endocrine Societies.
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- Previously it was thought that the active form of vitamin
D - calcitriol, which is a potent anti-cancer agent, was only made in the
kidney.
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- The researchers think having a local cancer-fighting
'factory' is part of the breast's natural immune response to a tumour.
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- And they suggest that the rise in breast cancer rates
in the UK may be linked to the fact that we have low levels of vitamin
D in our bodies.
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- Exposure to sunlight is the greatest source of vitamin
D and population studies have previously suggested higher vitamin levels
may contribute to the lower incidence of breast cancer seen in sunny climates
such as the Mediterranean.
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- Diet possibilities
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- Lead researcher Dr Martin Hewison said: "Our work
shows that the breast has its own local 'factory' for generating the anti-cancer
form of vitamin D.
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- "Unfortunately women who live in cloudy countries
like the UK may not have enough of the raw material, vitamin D, to fuel
this factory.
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- "Exposure to sunlight is the most efficient way
of generating vitamin D in our bodies, but we all know of the dangers of
sunbathing.
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- "Perhaps now it's time to look at improving our
dietary intake through fortification of more foods with Vitamin D."
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- Delyth Morgan, of the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer,
said previous research had also suggested that vitamin D may help prevent
and treat some cancers, including breast cancer.
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- However, she said the effect had yet to be confirmed
in human trials.
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- "Further research is needed before any firm conclusions
about the role of vitamin D in breast cancer prevention can be established."
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- Vitamin D is generated by exposing the skin to sunlight.
It is also found in dairy products, fish oils and breakfast cereals.
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- However, too much vitamin D is thought to disrupt the
body's phosphate and calcium levels.
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- The UK Food Standards Agency recommends a daily allowance
of 5 micrograms.
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- © BBC MMIV
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- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3558641.stm
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