Breast cancer patients who suffer from joint pain during chemotherapy could find relief through a higher intake of vitamin D, it has been claimed.
A US doctor says that by keeping the levels of vitamin D in the body high, the discomfort to joints while cancer patients are receiving treatment can be virtually eliminated, the Lawrence Journal reports.
Dr Qamar Khan of the Kansas University Medical Centre, says that preliminary research carried out on women with breast cancer showed that many were lacking in vitamin D before they began treatment.
He told the journal: "Main result of the clinical study was that some women had less than optimal levels of vitamin D in their blood. And that their joint pain was reduced with more vitamin D."
Dr Khan added: "More and more over the past few years, people have been realising that vitamin D may be more important than just preventing rickets."
Only a few foods naturally contain large amounts of vitamin D and most of our intake comes through fortified products such as milk, soy milk and cereal grains.
Breast cancer patients who suffer from joint pain during chemotherapy could find relief through a higher intake of vitamin D, it has been claimed. 
