Sun + Skin = Less Cancer and Maybe a Longer Life

[SpiritMatter]

Here is a breaking health news story from Reuters Health Information. Naturism is the healthy natural way to get more vitamin D into your body through exposure to sunshine!

Low Vitamin D Tied to Cancer Risk in Men

By David Douglas

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 13 - In men, low levels of vitamin D appear to be associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality -- particularly cancers of the digestive system -- researchers report in the April 5th issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

"Vitamin D deficiency is common and is important to identify and treat for multiple reasons," lead investigator Dr. Edward Giovannucci told Reuters Health. "An increasing body of evidence suggests that a reduction in risk of some cancers may turn out to be another benefit."

Dr. Giovannucci of Harvard School of Public Health, Boston and colleagues note that vitamin D has potent anticancer qualities.

To help quantify its effect, the researchers first correlated determinants of vitamin D exposure with serum levels in some 1000 men. Items involved were dietary and supplementary vitamin D, skin pigmentation, adiposity, geographical residence and leisure-time physical activity, and hence sunlight exposure. The researchers then computed vitamin D levels for 47,800 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

From 1986 to 2000, the researchers documented 4286 incident cancers and 2025 cancer deaths in the cohort. These figures excluded organ-confined prostate cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer.

An increment of 25 nmol/L in predicted plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was associated with a 17% reduction in total cancer incidence, a 29% reduction in total cancer mortality and a 45% reduction in digestive system cancer mortality.

Total cancer rates in men with the lowest predicted vitamin D level was 758 per 100,000. The rate in those with the highest levels was 674 per 100,000.

For total cancer mortality, the corresponding figures were 326 and 277 per 100,000. For digestive system cancer mortality, the rates were 128 and 78 per 100,000.

Co-author of an accompanying editorial, Drs. Gary G. Schwartz of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina told Reuters Health that "these observations add to a growing body of evidence that vitamin D, whose major source is casual exposure to sunlight, may play important roles in the natural history of many cancers."

"The idea that sunlight might inhibit the growth of human cancers, proposed by several epidemiologists, and once widely scoffed at," he concluded, "now appears to be having its rightful day in the sun."

J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:451-459,428-429.

[SpiritMatter]

Here is a breaking health news story from Reuters Health Information. Naturism is the healthy natural way to get more vitamin D into your body through exposure to sunshine!

Low Vitamin D Tied to Cancer Risk in Men

By David Douglas

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 13 - In men, low levels of vitamin D appear to be associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality -- particularly cancers of the digestive system -- researchers report in the April 5th issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

"Vitamin D deficiency is common and is important to identify and treat for multiple reasons," lead investigator Dr. Edward Giovannucci told Reuters Health. "An increasing body of evidence suggests that a reduction in risk of some cancers may turn out to be another benefit."

Dr. Giovannucci of Harvard School of Public Health, Boston and colleagues note that vitamin D has potent anticancer qualities.

To help quantify its effect, the researchers first correlated determinants of vitamin D exposure with serum levels in some 1000 men. Items involved were dietary and supplementary vitamin D, skin pigmentation, adiposity, geographical residence and leisure-time physical activity, and hence sunlight exposure. The researchers then computed vitamin D levels for 47,800 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

From 1986 to 2000, the researchers documented 4286 incident cancers and 2025 cancer deaths in the cohort. These figures excluded organ-confined prostate cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer.

An increment of 25 nmol/L in predicted plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was associated with a 17% reduction in total cancer incidence, a 29% reduction in total cancer mortality and a 45% reduction in digestive system cancer mortality.

Total cancer rates in men with the lowest predicted vitamin D level was 758 per 100,000. The rate in those with the highest levels was 674 per 100,000.

For total cancer mortality, the corresponding figures were 326 and 277 per 100,000. For digestive system cancer mortality, the rates were 128 and 78 per 100,000.

Co-author of an accompanying editorial, Drs. Gary G. Schwartz of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina told Reuters Health that "these observations add to a growing body of evidence that vitamin D, whose major source is casual exposure to sunlight, may play important roles in the natural history of many cancers."

"The idea that sunlight might inhibit the growth of human cancers, proposed by several epidemiologists, and once widely scoffed at," he concluded, "now appears to be having its rightful day in the sun."

J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:451-459,428-429.

[DoctorSurferDude]

Your speaking of Vitamin D, "sunshine" is an inference.

There are many sources of vitamin D, mostly dietary.....usually you get enough sunshine to fufill that portion of the requirement in the car on your way to work.

There have been studies that have shown that cigarette smoking may have protective effects on a few things including Alzheimer's disease. Should we then recommend one pack a day for people with a family history of Alzheimers? Nah

Moderation is the key. Wear sunblock. Don't burn yourself. And if you need more vitamin D, eat a balanced diet.

[Stu2630]

Interesting research - but is it not a red herring so far as nudism is concerned? Does a naked person get significantly more sunlight than, say, someone in a bikini or swimming trunks?

Stu

[Bob S.]

Stu:"Does a naked person get significantly more sunlight than, say, someone in a bikini or swimming trunks?"

No Stu, but it is much more fun to be naked than to wear those horrible, useless outfits

Doc:"Moderation is the key. Wear sunblock. Don't burn yourself. And if you need more vitamin D, eat a balanced diet."

I recall reading when this first came out that there are different forms of Vit D. Dietary D is slightly different than sunlight D.

Bob S.

[Revolutionary]

I will note that Sweden has a higher rate of cancer than most European nations. One of the reasons given for this is the lack of sunlight (a winter day in Stockholm may only have four hours of actual daylight and much of the time it is obstructed by clouds -- some northern regions get no daylight for much of the winter). Then in the summer people go wild and get burned, trying to catch as much sunlight as possible.

[hm0504]

quote:

Originally posted by Revolutionary:
I will note that Sweden has a higher rate of cancer than most European nations. One of the reasons given for this is the lack of sunlight (a winter day in Stockholm may only have four hours of actual daylight and much of the time it is obstructed by clouds -- some northern regions get no daylight for much of the winter). Then in the summer people go wild and get burned, trying to catch as much sunlight as possible.

I have the same theory.

[SpiritMatter]

quote:

Originally posted by DoctorSurferDude:
Your speaking of Vitamin D, "sunshine" is an inference.

There are many sources of vitamin D, mostly dietary.....usually you get enough sunshine to fufill that portion of the requirement in the car on your way to work.

There have been studies that have shown that cigarette smoking may have protective effects on a few things including Alzheimer's disease. Should we then recommend one pack a day for people with a family history of Alzheimers? Nah

Moderation is the key. Wear sunblock. Don't burn yourself. And if you need more vitamin D, eat a balanced diet.

Howdy. Thanks for your comment. Most people do not have a highly nutritious anti-oxidant loaded diet, and this hampers their ability to effectively use the small amount of vitamin D that is produced locally in your example's arm. The report recommended a minimum of 1,500 IU/ day.

The decision, to be exposed to a potential hazard such as smoking or sun light, should be made by the individual, after they have determined the potential costs and benefits to themselves, and others that might be exposed second hand, based on the best and latest research results available.

I agree with your recommendation of "moderation". Our bodies were designed, or evolved, to expect and handle moderate assaults to the amazing matrix of dynamic inter and intra cellular biochemical equilibriums within us, each with their stress recovery systems.

I agree that "sunblockers" can eliminate UV damage to skin, but who wants to wear a white coat of paint? Sunblockers are preferable only if the only alternative is one of the common commercial sunscreens. Sunburn not just sun exposure is the problem.

You sound like you are not a disciple of the FDA/AMA/Pharmaceutical complex. They are promoting and selling sunscreen products that give customers and their families the false confidence that they are being protected from dangerous UV radiation. What the users are actually doing is putting on a chemical that does reduce the UV-B rays, which in turn reduces the visible sunburn, basal and squamous cell skin cancers but also reduces the production of activated vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3), part of our natural UV stress defense. At the same time, these "sunscreens" are doing little to reduce the UV-A rays. The UV-A rays have a longer wavelength and penetrate deeper into the skin before wreaking their damage. UV-A damage is turning out to be an important factor in the production of free radicals, premature aging of the skin and damage to the melanocytes, which can lead to malignant melanoma. This is going to be a big issue in the near future.

Again, a balanced diet, if it were achieved, still does not seem to be the total solution for the best effective protection that vitamin D was designed to offer. Here is some more research information, the first of which, led to this study.

News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Charles Vega, MD, FAAFP
"Vitamin D may play an important role in the prevention of cancer. Activation of vitamin D receptor sites on tumor cells may promote apoptosis and reduce angiogenesis and metastatic potential. While there are many factors involved in determining vitamin D levels, it appears that solar radiation may be particularly important in its effects on cancer. In a study by Mizoue, published in the November 2004 issue of Health Physics, an inverse association was found between levels of annual solar radiation exposure and the incidence of cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, pancreas, and gall bladder. These results remained significant after adjustment for potential socioeconomic and dietary confounders.
The authors of the current study use an interesting model to determine the impact of vitamin D levels derived from different sources on the risk for cancer and cancer mortality."

A study using special techniques to detect free radical damage to human skin after ultraviolet light exposure, application of conventional sunscreen with an SPF of 20+ resulted in a “free radical protection factor” of only 2! Darr D, Dunston S, Faust H, Pinnell S. Effectiveness of antioxidants (vitamin C and E) with and without sunscreens as topical photoprotectants. Acta Derm Venereol. 1996 Jul;76(4):264-8.

Two studies suggest that sunlight exposure is associated with a decreased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer of the lymph glands and melanoma. Smedby KE, Hjalgrim H, Melbye M, et al. Ultraviolet radiation exposure and risk of malignant lymphomas. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005 Feb 2;97(3):199-209. Berwick M, Armstrong BK, Ben-Porat L, et al. Sun exposure and mortality from melanoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005 Feb 2;97(3):195-9.

Death rates from cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon are higher in northern latitudes (which receive less sun exposure) than in southern latitudes (which enjoy relatively greater sun exposure). Devesa SS, Grauman MA, Blot, WJ, Pennello GA. Hoover RN, Fraumeni JF. Atlas of cancer mortality in the United States: 1950 to 1994. NIH. 1999:99:4564.

It has been shown that the active form of vitamin D, generated by sun exposure on the skin,(1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3)is low in patients with malignant melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers. Hutchinson PE, Osborne JE, Lear JT, et al. Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms are associated with altered prognosis in patients with malignant melanoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2000 Feb;6(2):498-504.

May you achieve optimum physical and spiritual health!