Prostate health is a term men are used to hearing. As men age, keeping the prostate healthy becomes more and more important. Getting enough vitamin D might play a role in reducing the risk of prostate cancer. Although the link between the two is not entirely clear, it is likely that vitamin D will benefit your prostate health.
Prostate Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S. in 2007, 223,307 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and close to 30,000 men die every year as a result of the cancer. Vitamin D might play a role in the prevention or reduction in severity of prostate cancer.
Link Between Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer
Men who reside in areas of the country that receive less daily sunlight and less-intense forms of sunlight, such as those areas farthest away from the equator, might have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. The lack of sunlight can be linked to decreased amounts of vitamin D absorption, and this might play a role in the development of prostate cancer. According to findings reported by Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, more aggressive forms of prostate cancer were found to be present in men who had lower levels of vitamin D.
Risk for Deficiency
Certain men are more at risk for a vitamin D deficiency than others. Men who spend the majority of their time indoors are not as likely to get enough vitamin D from the sun. Also, residing in areas high above the equator or where there is limited sunlight throughout the year can also make it harder to get enough vitamin D. Having a darker skin tone will slow the speed at which your skin produces vitamin D through sun exposure, making it harder for African American men to get enough vitamin D. As you age, the amount of vitamin D your body absorbs from the sun decreases. Therefore, the older you are, the greater your risk for a vitamin D deficiency.
Getting Enough
Getting enough vitamin D from your diet can be challenging because vitamin D does not naturally occur in many foods. Some foods such as fatty fish and fortified cereals and milks can be consumed to add some vitamin D to your diet.
Adequate sun exposure will provide you with a considerable amount of vitamin D. Generally, spending 15 minutes in the sun a couple times a week can provide you with enough vitamin D. However, if you have a darker skin color or reside far from the equator, you will need to increase the amount of time you spend in the sun. Also, you can talk with your doctor about adding a vitamin D supplement to your diet. Adults under the age of 50 can take a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU and after the age of 50, you can increase your intake to 600 IU per day.
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