'It's very likely that if you're over 40 and supplement your diet with a generous amount of vitamin D, you can lower your risk of prostate, breast and bowel cancer, along with your risk of 'essential' hypertension, osteoporosis and tuberculosis,'

In a study that analyzed the relation of vitamin D levels to insulin sensitivity in a group of adults with normal glucose-tolerance, those with the lowest levels of vitamin D were more prone to develop symptoms of type 2 diabetes, including weaker pancreatic function and greater insulin resistance.

Sufficient levels of vitamin D may cut the risk of heart disease in older women by as much as one-third, due to the ability of vitamin D to help prevent the build up of calcium deposits in the arteries.

Generous Amount of Vitamin D Reaps Benefits

When a group of 54 congestive heart failure (CHF) patients was compared to a group of 34 healthy subjects, researchers found that the CHF patients had vitamin D levels significantly lower than the healthy group.

Those with the lowest vitamin D levels tended to have the most severe symptoms of CHF.

"It's very likely that if you're over 40 and supplement your diet with a generous amount of vitamin D, you can lower your risk of prostate, breast and bowel cancer, along with your risk of 'essential' hypertension, osteoporosis and tuberculosis," says US physician Dr Jonathan V. Wright.

He suggests increasing the amount of salmon and sardines, or even good old-fashioned cod liver oil in your diet, rather than dairy products.