Vitamin D Seems to Thwart Colorectal Cancer
 (HealthDayNews, 12/9/03)

When Dr. David Lieberman of Portland VA Medical Center in Oregon, and team, screened 3,121 symptom-free veterans, aged 50 to 75, for rectal polyps, the researchers detected serious, pre-malignant polyps in 10% of the subjects. The investigators compared the incidence of these polyps with the subjects’ lifestyle habits and family histories of colon cancer and concluded that heredity, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking raise the risk of developing polyps; while eating a diet rich in fiber and vitamin D may lower the risk. Taking aspirin may also reduce the risk, but should only be done on the advice of a doctor. In addition, the researchers emphasize that colonoscopy can prevent colon cancer by detecting growths that can be removed before they become malignant.