Can Covering Up From The Sun Lead To Vitamin D Deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency is rife in the Western world with approximately 80 per cent of people having low vitamin D plasma levels on cancer diagnosis, and low vitamin D levels after someone develops cancer being linked to lower survival times.
One main reason is that vitamin D has been shown to 'arm' the immune system T-cells. Without adequate vitamin D, your immune system is weak.
For example 82% of women with breast cancer on diagnosis have plasma levels of 15-20ng/ml. The figure is almost the same for prostate cancer (78%) and colorectal cancer (76%).
The NHS has said levels should be at least 35-40ng/ml, while the experts - Boston Medical School with 25 years research behind them - believe a healthy level is 75-150ng/ml.
Indeed, a low plasma vitamin D level is also linked to all manner of chronic illnesses from Alzheimer's to Parkinson's and Cardiovascular disease to diabetes.
Scientists are now pointing the finger at a pre-occupation of certain cancer charities with covering up from the sun for fear of skin cancers like melanoma.
Sun causes the release of Vitamin D into the blood stream
"Whilst the "sun smart" campaign of "slip, slop, slap" has had a significant effect in Australia resulting in 50% less sunburn, a side-effect may well be that a significant proportion of the Australian population including at least 23% of women are Vitamin D deficient". Sun, particularly on the face, causes the release of Vitamin D into the blood stream. A deficiency in Vitamin D in the bones can lead to osteoporosis. New research in Medical Journal Australia Research is now underway to look at whether skin cancer campaigns have indeed had this effect.
Go to: Vitamin D - Are you getting enough?
Bruce Armstrong (New South Wales Cancer Council Epidemiology Unit) said that, "There is also increasing evidence that sun exposure may reduce auto immune disease".
There are now 4 research studies that show taking chemotherapy drugs can reduce vitamin D levels to the point of deficiency. Just what you don't want if you have cancer.
Go to: Chemotherapy prevents vitamin D rising in the body
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