London, Dec 12 (ANI): A new study has suggested that high levels of sunlight combined with a diet packed with Vitamin D can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 43 per cent.

Laboratory studies have suggested that Vitamin D may have a number of anti-cancer effects and has been shown to slow the spread of cancer cells.

Researchers at the Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France tracked 67,721 women aged 41 to 72 for a decade to see who developed breast cancer.

Regions, where levels of daily ultraviolet were high, the women with higher level of Vitamin D had a breast cancer risk 32 to 43 per cent lower compared with those with the lowest vitamin intake.

"Our findings support a protective effect of sun exposure on the risk of breast cancer," the Daily Mail quoted Pierre Engel, who led the study, as saying.

"It is difficult to have a simple public-health message without thinking about the risk of skin cancer. We must be very cautious but we think that increased Vitamin D levels by reasonable sun exposure and higher dietary intakes should be encouraged.

"As suggested by our results, diet alone seems unable to provide an adequate amount of Vitamin D," said Engel.

'These results confirm other work we have carried out showing that women with high blood Vitamin D levels are at reduced risk of breast cancer compared to those who have very low levels,' added Engel. (ANI)