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New finding: Vitamin D supplements may reduce skin cancer risk
The most popular way to get this important nutrient is through sun exposure — but supplementation is a bonus.
Vitamin D plays an essential role in the body. In addition to reducing the risk of degenerative diseases, it helps prevent skin cancer. This is the conclusion of a new study published on the 28th of December in the journal “Melanoma Research”.
The research involved 498 Finnish adults, who were chosen by dermatologists because they had a high risk of skin cancers such as melanoma, as well as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Participants were divided into three groups based on their intake of vitamin D supplements: no use, occasional use, or regular use. According to researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and the University Hospital of Kuopio, people who regularly took these supplements were less likely to develop melanoma in later years.
The researchers were also interested in finding out whether regular use of vitamin D supplements corresponded to higher blood levels of serum calcidiol — which is the “storage form” of the nutrient in the body. After testing serum calcidiol levels in 260 participants, the investigators found that regular vitamin D supplementation corresponded to the highest serum calcidiol levels and no supplementation to the lowest levels.
How can we get this vitamin?
The most popular way is through sun exposure. However, despite being a normally sunny country, Portugal suffers from low levels of the vitamin when compared to around 20 percent of the Finnish population, for example, for the same time of year. Food and supplementation can be good strategies to increase the levels of this nutrient in our body.
The indicated recommended daily dose of vitamin D for Portugal is 5 micrograms per day for adults, 10 from the age of 50 and 15 from the age of 70 in healthy individuals. In people aged over 65 and with osteoporosis problems, the recommendation rises to 20 micrograms per day.
In any case, it is always recommended that you consult your doctor before making any decision.
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