A new study showed increased intake of vitamin D through diet and exposure to the sun was associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of estrogen-receptor(ER)- and progesterone-receptor(PR)-defined breast cancer, according media reports Monday quoting the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The study was carried by Blackmore KM and colleagues from Mount Sinai Hospital in Ontario, Canada.

It compared 758 cases of breast cancer and 1,135 controls without the disease and found those who had high intake of vitamin D were also found to have a 26 percent reduced risk of ER or PR breast cancer and a 21 percent decreased risk of ER or PR tumors.

The study also suggested that vitamin D was associated with a reduce risk of breast cancer regardless of ER/PR status of the tumor.

Vitamin D is found in a limited number of foods including oily fish, fortified foods such as juices, cereals and milk and most conveniently is synthesized after an individual is exposed to sunshine.

(Xinhua/Agencies October 20, 2008)