Vit D deficiency

[Guest guest]

From the National Cancer Institute: There is nothing that says it is a

precursor to cancer.

_http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D_

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D)

Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention: Strengths and Limits of the Evidence

Key Points

* _Vitamin D_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000427253 & version\

=Patient & language=English) is essential for the

formation, growth, and repair of bones and for normal _calcium_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000045632 & version\

=Patient &

language=English) _absorption_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000463702 & version\

=Patient & language=English) and

_immune function_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000045721 & version\

=Patient & language=English) . It is obtained primarily

through exposure of the skin to _ultraviolet radiation_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000045934 & version\

=Patient & language=En

glish) in sunlight, but it can also be obtained from some foods and

_dietary supplements_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000373932 & version\

=Patient & language=English) (see _Questions 1_

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D#q1) and _4_

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D#q4) ).

* Some studies suggest that higher intakes of vitamin D from food

and/or supplements and higher levels of vitamin D in the _blood_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000270735 & version\

=Patient & l

anguage=English) are associated with reduced risks of _colorectal

cancer_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000444983 & version\

=Patient & language=English) ; however, the research results overall

have been inconsistent (see _Question 7_

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D#q7) ).

* Whether vitamin D is associated with reduced risks of other

cancers, including _breast_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000304766 & version\

=Patient & language=English) , _prostate_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000046539 & version\

=Patie

nt & language=English) , and _pancreatic cancers_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000044521 & version\

=Patient & language=Engl

ish) , remains unclear (see _Questions 8_

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D#q8) , _9_

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D#q9) , _10_

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D#q10) , and

_11_

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D#q11) ).

* The _National Cancer Institute_

(http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=CDR0000044266 & version\

=Patient & language=English)

(NCI) does not recommend for or against the use of vitamin D supplements to

reduce the risk of colorectal or any other type of cancer (see _Question

14_ (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D#q14) ).

Note: The information in this fact sheet is not to be used as the basis

for making health claims about products containing vitamin D.