FRIDAY, May 16, (News Locale) - Lack of adequate levels of vitamin D in the body increases the risk of death in breast cancer patients, a new study by Canadian researchers has indicated.

Previous studies have also linked lack of vitamin D as increasing the risk of cancer, more specifically colorectal cancer, but this is the first study to link low levels of the vitamin to increased mortality from breast cancer.

Researchers at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto followed 512 women who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer between 1989 and 1995. The women had their cancer treated at three Toronto hospitals and were tracked for an average of 12 years till 2006.

Lead researcher r. Pamela Goodwin of Mount Sinai Hospital and colleagues found that just 24 percent of the women had adequate levels of vitamin D. More alarmingly women with low vitamin D levels were 94 percent more likely to have their cancer spread to other parts of the body within a decade and 73 percent more likely to die from it.

The details of the study were released by the American Society for Clinical Oncology.

Earlier studies have also suggested vitamin D can avert the risk of cancer by maintaining healthy cells and preventing over-production of cells, which is one of the main events to trigger cancer development. One study by researchers at the University of California at San Diego suggested vitamin D could lower the risk of cancer by preventing formation of new blood vessels for tumors.

According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, adults should get 400 IU (International Units) of vitamin D each day. Those over 70 years old need 600 IU daily, but no one should consume more than 2,000 IU a day.

Vitamin D is present in many foods including salmon, mackerel, cod liver oil, tuna, margarine and vitamin D fortified milk. Sun exposure is also one of the important ways to increase blood levels of vitamin D.

Breast cancer patients need not tank up on vitamin D supplements. This is because more trials are needed to assess the exact relationship if any between the vitamin and the spread of cancer. However it is advised that patients get their vitamin D levels checked so as to ensure they are within normal limits.