Vitamin D and calcium cut cancer risk, says trial

The results of two recently-published independent studies suggest that improved nutritional status via vitamin D and calcium supplementation may substantially reduce a woman's risk of developing cancer. The findings provide further support for the idea that optimal intake of such nutrients is of benefit in preventing the development of serious disease.

Cuts breast cancer risk 35%

The first assessment, details of which were presented in the Archives of Internal Medicine, examined nutritional and dietary information from 10,000 pre- and 20,000 postmenopausal cancer-free women for a 10-year period. Analysis revealed that a higher intake of both vitamin D and calcium was associated with a reduced likelihood of breast cancer; in the sub-population that had the highest intake of both nutrients for example, the risk reduction was around 35%.