Vitamin D May Stave Off Skin Cancer

Vitamin D May Stave Off Skin Cancer

NEW YORK--A topical, modified version of vitamin D may prevent skin cancer,according to a study presented by researchers from Johns Hopkins University atan August American Chemical Society meeting. During a 20-week study, mice weregiven a skin cancer-promoting agent. Then, one group of mice had a chemicallyaltered vitamin D applied to the skin, while the control group received notreatment. The vitamin D treatment given to the mice reduced the incidence oftumors by 28 percent; also, those who had tumors had 63-percent fewer than thecontrol group.

However, researchers cautioned that too much vitamin D can deplete the body'scalcium levels, leading to osteoporosis or even death. For more information,visit www.acs.org.