Vitamin D ( along with A, E and K) is a fat soluble vitamin which is absorbed in the intestines along with fat. It needs a protein carrier. Vitamin D is stored in the liver and can be eaten in large amounts periodically.
Vitamin D in it’s active form is one of the most powerful hormones in the human body. Deficiency in Vitamin D leads to increased levels of parathyroid hormones and osteomalacia.
There are some studies showing association of Vitamin D levels with incidence of breast cancer:
Study:
- “Many observational and cross sectional studies reflect that deficiency of vitamin D is commonly found in patients with breast cancer. Some studies have also demonstrated a protective effect of vitamin D on breast cancer risk. Several studies have shown a negative relationship between sunlight exposure and breast cancer risk. Proposed mechanism for this negative association is sunlight induced dermal synthesis of vitamin D, which evidence suggests, can reduce the risk of breast cancer.”
Source: NCBI “Association between Vitamin D deficiency and Breast Cancer”
Other sources:
- “We know Vitamin D controls more than 200 genes (directly or indirectly), and has an impact in reducing many chronic illnesses. Cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, autoimmune disease, common cancers, glucose imbalance, inflammation, poor muscle performance, mental illness and more are influenced by its activity.
- It seems high circulating serum levels of Vitamin D, measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), are associated with a decreased risk of deadly cancers and other diseases.
- Those living at higher latitudes where Vitamin D exposure is lower, are at increased risk for many of these diseases–Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancers of the colon, pancreas, prostate, ovarian and breast, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.“
Source: Montclair Breast Center.
