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More Sun Exposure Recommended for Disease Prevention

We have all heard much about how excessive sun exposure can accelerate aging and raise the risk of skin cancer. However, a study by the U.S. Department of Energy Brookhaven National Laboratory suggests that the benefits of boosting vitamin D production by moderately increasing exposure to sunlight outweighs the risk of developing skin cancer for populations deficient in vitamin D. The scientists are aware that solar radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer. However, sun-activated vitamin D has been shown to play a protective role in a number of major cancers and a range of other diseases. The concern is particularly great for populations in northern latitudes, such as Scandinavia, where sun exposure is limited.

In the current study, the researchers used a model incorporating information on solar radiation intensity using a vertical cylinder shape to represent the human body's skin surface for calculation of the relative production of vitamin D via sunlight as a function of latitude, or distance from the equator. The calculations found people in Australia produce 3.4 times more vitamin D as a result of sun exposure than do people in the UK, and 4.8 times more than people in Scandinavia. Scientists also found that incidence rates of major cancers such as colon, lung, breast and prostate also increased from north to south.

How can we get the benefits of vitamin D without running the risk of skin cancer? Researchers suggest two solutions to this problem. The first is for sunscreens to be redesigned so they don't block out as much UVB rays, while still protecting from melanoma-causing UVA and visible light. The second option is to continue wearing standard sunscreen while increasing vitamin D consumption through foods such as cod liver oil and milk as well as dietary supplements. However, consumption of synthetic vitamin D can not substitute for naturally, sun-activated vitamin D in the skin through appropriate sun exposure.

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