Prostate cancer is a major cause of death among men.  It has claimed the lives of 56,000 European men (1998), along with 29,900 American men (2004).  To-date, there have been no obvious preventive strategies, however in 2005 scientists from the Northern California Cancer Center (USA) proposed that Vitamin D may cut prostate cancer risk.  The researchers found that in men with certain gene variants, high sun exposure reduced prostate cancer risk by as much as 65%.  Previous research has shown that the prostate uses Vitamin D, which the body manufactures from exposure to sunlight, to promote the normal growth of prostate cells and to inhibit the invasiveness and spread of prostate cancer cells to other parts of the body. The scientists propose that men may benefit by increasing Vitamin D intake from diet and supplements (whereas excessive exposure to sunlight may result with the negative effect of sun-induced skin cancer).  Foods rich in Vitamin D include egg yolks, liver, and cod liver oil, and margarine and cereals are often fortified with this nutrient as well.

Learn more about reducing your cancer risk factors by visiting The World Health Network, www.worldhealth.net, the official educational website of the A4M.