WebMD - Sunshine May Keep Certain Cancers at Bay

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Sunshine May Keep Certain Cancers at Bay

Vitamin D May Slow Cancer Growth

By

Hedy Marks

WebMD Medical News

April 4, 2002 -- Sunshine does more than beat the wintertime

blues, it may also help keep you from developing certain cancers. The

vitamin D gained through sun exposure may be the reason. Daylight savings

time is upon us, and that means more sunshine. But, don't go slathering

on the baby oil just yet; too much sun exposure still increases a

person's risk of skin cancer.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute reviewed death

certificates of people with cancer to assess the impact of sunlight

exposure on the likelihood of dying. Not surprisingly, they found a

higher number of deaths from skin cancer in sunnier climes, but deaths

from other cancers, including breast, ovarian, colon, and prostate, were

significantly lower. Moreover, working outdoors in a very sunny

environment was associated with even fewer deaths from breast and colon

cancer.

Previous research has shown that vitamin D, a substance obtained through

sunlight, as well as fortified milk, cereals, enriched breads, and

saltwater fish, may retard the growth of cancer cells, particularly when

it comes to breast and colon cancer.

Still, the findings do not give the green light for unprotected sun

exposure. The researchers are quick to point out that their findings are

preliminary and that " much remains to be explained about the biology of

sunlight and cancer. "

The study is published in this month's issue of Occupational and

Environmental Medicine.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1689.52062?z=1728_00000_1000_ln_06