TUESDAY October 16, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Sun exposure, which is a major source of vitamin D, reduces risk of advanced breast cancer among women with light skin pigmentation, according to a study published in the Oct. 12 issue of American Journal of Epidemiology.
 
The study led by John E.M. from Northern California Cancer Center in Fremont, CA and colleagues showed that high sun exposure may reduce the risk of advanced breast cancer by 47 percent in non-Hispanic women who had light skin color. 
 
John EM and team looked at data from 1,788 newly diagnosed cases of advanced breast cancer and 2,129 controls aged 35 to 79 from the San Francisco Bay Area of California between 1995 and 2003 to examine the effect of sun exposure on the risk of advanced breast cancer.
 
The researchers found the association between sun exposure and reduced risk of advanced breast cancer did not vary with the vitamin D receptor gene genotype. The link was not found among women with medium or dark skin color.
 
In addition, they found localized breast cancer risk was not linked with sun exposure and vitamin D receptor gene genotype.
 
Recent studies have showed that high levels of serum vitamin D may help prevent up to 70 percent of breast cancer.   Breast cancer is expected to be diagnosed in 17,500 women and kill about 50,000 in the United States in 2007, according to the National Cancer Institute.