Vitamin D Deficiency Could Increase Cancer Risk, While more people are following the now familiar avoid sun exposure and always wear sunscreen to reduce their risk of skin cancer, there's growing concern that this advice is contributing to another health problem a vitamin D deficiency. This important nutrient is best known for building strong bones and teeth key to preventing osteoporosis but low levels have also been linked to an increased risk of type 1 diabetes, muscle and bone pain, and perhaps more frightening, a greater chance of cancers of the face, and other parts of body.

We all recognize that vitamin D is critical for bone health, but we have not appreciated, although we have known for at least 20 years, that almost every cell in the human body has receptors for activated vitamin D," many to be the nation's leading authority on vitamin D. "We need adequate amounts to keep cell growth in check. In other words, without enough vitamin D, cells can multiply too quickly and promote cancerous tumors. Yet between 20% and 80% of all people have low enough levels to classify them as vitamin D-deficient. Avoiding sun exposure is a bad strategy for overall cancer prevention. When weather permits, he recommends getting at least 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight each day on bare shoulders, arms, and legs without using sunscreen.

Unfortunately, now is an especially difficult time to avoid vitamin D deficiency for many people. "From November through March, many people can't get enough vitamin D from sunlight, no matter how much exposure they have. "This is especially hill site locations problematic.

• One reason: Most of the body's vitamin D comes from sunlight exposure on bare, unprotected skin.

• When wearing sunscreen, you will absolutely prevent the synthesis of vitamin D even more so than you will prevent skin cancer.

• Ecommends abandoning sunscreen or baking in the sun for extended periods. Instead, they suggest getting limited unprotected sun exposure during sunny months 15 to 20 minutes a day and then applying sunscreen on exposed skin.

• Unfortunately, unless you're eating three or four servings of fish a week, there are essentially no foods that provide enough vitamin D to prevent a deficiency during the winter months. "You need to take supplements.

• To ensure you get proper amounts, he recommends taking a daily multivitamin containing at least 400 international units, as well as a separate vitamin D supplement with between 400 and 1,000 IU. Don't take two multivitamins because that will contain too much vitamin A, which can cause nerve damage in high doses.

• You can't depend on getting vitamin D from milk. That 30% of the milk we tested had only 20% of the levels stated in the label." In other words, you'd have to drink 10 glasses of milk or vitamin D-fortified orange juice each day to get enough vitamin D as found in supplements. People who practice proper sun protection and are concerned that they are not getting enough vitamin D should either take a multivitamin or drink a few glasses of vitamin D-fortified milk every day.