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Vitamin D and Cancer - BCI Response
The Westmead Breast Cancer Institute has provided a response to an article published in the Sunday Herald, 14th December 2008 titled "Slip, slop, slap on the wrist over sun"It’s not surprising that many Australians are confused about whether or not to go out in the sun, or for how long, to achieve adequate vitamin D levels. The article (“Slip, slop, slap on the wrist over sun”) , SMH: December 14) which reports on a population survey of sun exposure and vitamin D levels states that “a review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) finds there is no evidence that vitamin D deficiency raises the risk of prostate or breast cancer”.
This is notin fact the conclusion of the report. The IARC report did find an association between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of breast cancer, but the strength of that association varies when different types of studies are included.
There is evidence that up to 42% of the population may be vitamin D deficient, and this is worse for the elderly, indoor workers and people with dark skin. This year a link between a low vitamin D level at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer, and a worse prognosis, was discovered.
Adequate dietary intake of vitamin D from fortified foods and oily fish may be unachievable given that very few foods are fortified with vitamin D in Australia. Few Australians would eat enough foods that are good natural sources of vitamin D, such as the flesh of fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines) and fish liver oils. Only small amounts of vitamin D are found in beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks.
We believe that for vitamin D levels to be high enough to help prevent chronic disease, a combination of supplements, and/or small amounts of sun exposure are required in addition to diet. In Sydney, about 6-8 minutes a day of sun exposure to the face and arms in summer or about 25 minutes in winter are recommended by a working group of the ANZ Bone and Mineral Society, Endocrine Society of Australia and Osteoporosis Australia).
The IARC has urged that new research studies on vitamin D levels and breast cancer are warranted, and this must become a national research priority.
Ms Kellie Billinski – dietitian and project leader vitamin D research program, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute
A/Prof John Boyages—Executive Director, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute