New studies indicate that vitamin D, a nutrient made by the skin during exposure to sunlight, can lower the risk of breast cancer by 30% to 40% and perhaps even more. Epidemiologist Esther John of the North California Cancer Center said at a meeting of breast cancer experts that a study comparing the health habits of 133 breast cancer patients with women who did not have the disease found that exposure to sunlight significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer. Sunlight lowers the risk, said John, because the skin uses ultraviolet rays to make vitamin D.
Advertisement
