DECIDING whether to avoid direct sunshine just became more complicated. Keeping out of the sun helps avoid skin cancer, but sunshine also allows your skin to manufacture vitamin D, which plays a key role in preventing colorectal cancer.
In a review of studies examining links between vitamin D and colorectal cancer, Cedric Garland and his colleagues at the University of California, San Diego, conclude that taking 1000 units, or 25 micrograms, of the vitamin daily – equivalent to five times US guidelines for young adults – halves the risk of colorectal cancer.
Vitamin D is thought to prevent colorectal cancer by helping…
