A new study has found that high levels of vitamin D may contribute to a decreased risk of dying from bowel cancer.
A number of previous studies have provided evidence that vitamin D can help to reduce cancer mortality, either by decreasing incidence of the disease or by improving survival rates.
Vitamin D, which can be obtained through diet or from exposure to sunlight, has been suggested to reduce tumour growth and promote the death of cancer cells.
The latest study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, looked at 16,818 people, all of whom were over the age of 17.
After a decade had passed, 536 participants had died from cancer and there was no association between vitamin D levels and overall mortality.
But the researchers noticed that higher levels of vitamin D were associated with a 72 per cent reduced risk of death from bowel cancer.
Cancer Research UK warned against spending too much time in the sun to boost vitamin D levels, however.
Cancer information officer Ed Yong commented: "Vitamin D is often referred to as the sunshine vitamin - but it's important to remember that getting heavy sun exposure or getting sunburnt will increase your risk of skin cancer."
A new study has found that high levels of vitamin D may contribute to a decreased risk of dying from bowel cancer.
