Vitamin D, sunscreen, and cancer
Earlier this week, I wrote about the dangers of vitamin D deficiency. Here's an interesting new twist on the story. I was just reading an article by Craig Weatherby on the controversial new campaign being waged by the American Cancer Society (and funded by sunscreen manufacturer Neutrogena), which implies that sunscreen could prevent cancer deaths. Of course, the type of cancer that sunscreen prevents is extremely unlikely to be life-threatening. What's more, Craig argues, sunscreen-induced vitamin D deficiency might be a far greater cancer threat! Here's a link to the entire article, "Cancer Society's Anti-Sun Ads Decried."
NutritionData user Edward Hutchinson comments:
"That is an excellent article by Craig. We all know that excessive sun exposure, particularly that causing sunburn, is going to be harmful but nowadays people are afraid to go out in the sun at all. The message Holick is putting forward is one of moderate, limited, regular, sun exposure. Much the same advice is available from Vitamin D council website.
I think if people understood more about how Vitamin D is actually made by the action of UVB on the skin and what happens with the application of further heat they would understand why having just short sessions in the sun is so important."
Those interested in the biochemical details of vitamin D production can read more about it here: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/vitdpathway.htm
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Posted by: Karen | Jul 27, 2009 7:26:16 PM
I think that we need to be careful with this type of article. The Melanoma references quoted in this article by Craig Weatherby are all US stats. This site is viewed internationally, and the advice given is appropriate only to a US audience.
Here in Australia we suffer hugely from Melanoma, with many deaths annually, it is one of the deadliest cancers our nation suffers from. Vit D is seldom deficient even in darker skinned individuals.
I agree that many dietary and genetic factors have a bearing on this, but the truth is that when people of generally European descent live in climates with high UV, the risk is expanded exponentially.
That said - We should definately look at these issues from all sides, and I applaud this site for presenting info from many sources. R readers should take their own circumstances into account when interpreting information.
Posted by: June Cheatwood | Jul 24, 2009 4:59:02 PM
Thanks, Dr. Eldridge, for even speaking of what people "used to do" because you make so much sense. It could be coincidence, but in my own 71 years the only times I have had skin cancer was when I WAS using sunscreen absolutely regularly--two basal cell and one malignant squamous cell but well differentiated. So I said to heck with that and went without sunscreen and have not had a skin cancer in the eight years since. Instead, I deliberately expose the skin to short doses of sun before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. so that it builds up its own protection: a very light tan. And also use a sun hat and long sleeves like people used to do if out at midday, of course. This also gives me enough vitamin D, proven by actual testing for D. We just need fewer meds and medication-like products, period!
Posted by: Lynne Eldridge MD | Jul 27, 2007 5:59:22 PM
Thanks so much for this post! Perhaps we need to remember the common sense approach to the sun that our grandparents used. Moderation. In 1935, before sunscreen was available, the risk of melanoma was one in 1200. It is now one in 84. They used clothing to protect their skin and avoided excessive exposure mid-day. They also DID get out in the sun, and it was encouraged even on cold winter days. A study published in the journal "Cancer" estimated that 24,000 people die from cancer in the US each year from lack of sun exposure (presumably secondary to vitamin D deficiency). This is more than twice the number that die from skin cancer.
Lynne Eldridge MD
Author, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time"
http://www.avoidcancernow.com
