In countries with limited sunshine, like the UK, vitamin supplements may be necessary

Taking vitamin D supplements reduces the risk of dying from cancer by 13 per cent, an overview of research suggests.

Modern indoor lifestyles mean that many people do not receive enough of the vitamin from sunshine, which could be harming their ability to fight cancer, experts said.

A series of studies pointed to the benefits of having enough vitamin D, either through supplements, sunshine or foods such as oily fish, eggs and meat.

A fifth of Britons are estimated to have low levels. Public Health England recommends that to keep levels high everyone should consider taking supplements during the winter.

Vitamin D is well known to protect the bones and muscles but interest has been growing in its benefits for other types of disease.