High levels of vitamin D have been linked to a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer by new research published in the British Medical Journal.
The study of more than half a million Europeans across 10 countries concluded that those with the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood had a 40 per cent lower risk of colorectal cancer than those with the lowest levels.
Greater dietary intake of calcium was also associated with a lower colorectal cancer risk.
However, the study's authors said it was unclear whether vitamin D supplements were more effective than diet or sun exposure.
Further work is needed, they added, to see whether there could be any side effects from taking supplements or eating food fortified with vitamin D.