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Dr. Cedric Garland explains if a vitamin D deficiency puts women at a greater risk for developing breast cancer.
Dr. Cedric Garland, Dr.P.H., F.A.C.E.:
Well, the best way is to have a test done of the blood. In fact, it’s the only sure way. It’s easy to do. It just takes a few drops of blood on a little blotter sent to a laboratory. It comes back in a few days, and then we know what the level is, just as you would with a cholesterol level or some other measure that will be devoted to protecting your health.
And then when you get that level, it’s best to consult with a doctor or a dietician who is familiar with your medical history, and use an individual and make a decision about the best way to raise that vitamin D level. That will usually involve, if there’s no contra-indication, a little bit of sunshine, it may involve eating more foods that contain vitamin D, probably will involve a little bit of vitamin D supplementation. It’s best if it’s done in combination.
About Dr. Cedric Garland, Dr.P.H., F.A.C.E.:
Dr. Cedric Garland, Dr.P.H., F.A.C.E., is adjunct professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. His research interests include, epidemiology of breast cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, melanoma, multiple sclerosis and ovarian cancer.
Visit Dr. Cedric Garland at the University of California, San Diego