I just have to ask…if you’re not supplementing with Vitamin D yet, why not?
The research is very strong and the bottom line is that we were designed for heavy amounts of sunlight. Our paleolithic ancestors didn’t have sunscreen. Didn’t have the option of staying inside and playing Xbox instead of hunting for food. Granted, my Irish ancestors weren’t hanging out in the Sahara, but they still were getting lots of sunlight at their latitude.
There is also something in today’s society leading to lowered blood levels of D. Sunscreen, obesity, spending much time indoors, sunlight coming through glass, showering at night and particulate matter in the atmosphere are all likely playing a role in too low of levels in the blood. Good thing supplementation is so darn cheap (in our office, $20 for about a YEAR for the highest quality vitamin D).
In this particular study, researchers found that, in those women with the highest vitamin D levels, there was a 27% lower risk of developing breast cancer. However, for women under 53 years of age, this protection jumped to 40%.
Pretty good numbers for such an inexpensive and safe supplements.