Health: News In Brief
                     
                             Wednesday, April 28, 1999 Published at 17:32 GMT 18:32 UK

Sunshine 'cure' for hip fractures

A  healthy dose of sunshine could prevent older women from fracturing their hips,  according to a study.

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, USA, found that half  of post-menopausal women admitted to the hospital with hip fractures had low  levels of vitamin D.

The vitamin, which helps the body to absorb calcium, is synthesised in the body through exposure to sunlight.

US doctors say up to 24% of women can die in the first year after suffering a  hip fracture.

The risk of post-menopausal women developing hip fractures is thought to be  equal to the combined risk of developing breast, ovarian and uterine cancer.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,  suggests vitamin D could be an important supplement for patients with weakened  bones.