Vitamin D's importance in maintaining strong, healthy bones through its interaction with the essential mineral, calcium, is well known.  But the vitamin is also vital for the health of the nervous and immune systems, in regulating insulin levels and blood pressure, and even as a possible protector against certain common cancers.

The best known and most serious disease associated with vitamin D deficiency is rickets, which arises when the deficiency causes blood calcium levels to fall too low, and the body to respond by stripping the bones of calcium leading to loss of bone  density and malformation.

Interestingly, studies have shown that the geographical pattern of the incidence of rickets is very similar to those for both breast and colon cancer, suggesting a possible (though not fully understood) link between vitamin D deficiency and these diseases.  One 5 year study which grouped 120,000 people by levels of vitamin D intake reported that men in the highest intake group had a 29% lower incidence of colon cancer than those in the lowest intake group and similar results have been observed in breast cancer research.  Relatively high blood levels of active form vitamin D have also been associated with a lower risk of pre-cancerous growths (polyps) in the colon whereas lower levels of vitamin in the blood have been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Vitamin D is known to be essential for a healthy immune system and has been shown to be particularly important in helping prevent auto-immune diseases

Guest Author: Steve Smith

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-vitamin-d-may-help-in-the-battle-against-cancer-223888.html

About the Author:
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in direct marketing and with a particular interest in health products.

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