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Skin cancer prevention and UV‐protection: how to avoid vitamin D‐deficiency?
Author(s) -
Reichrath J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09450.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d deficiency , sun protection , skin cancer , vitamin d and neurology , dermatology , cancer prevention , cancer
Summary Because solar UV‐radiation represents the most important environmental risk factor for the development of non‐melanoma skin cancer, UV protection is important to prevent these malignancies. Consequently, public health campaigns were developed to improve the knowledge of the general population regarding the role of UV‐radiation for the development of skin cancer. However, it has to be noted that vitamin D‐mediated positive effects of UV light were not adequately considered in most of these campaigns, that often propose a strict ‘no sun policy’ without giving recommendations how to prevent vitamin D‐deficiency. Under our living conditions, approximately 90% of all vitamin D needed by the human body has to be formed in the skin through the action of UV‐B‐radiation and it has been shown that strict sun protection causes vitamin D‐deficiency. This dilemma represents a serious problem, for an association of vitamin D‐deficiency and multiple independent diseases including various types of cancer, bone diseases, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension has now been reported in a large number of laboratory and epidemiologic investigations. Although further work is necessary to define an adequate vitamin D‐status and adequate guidelines for UV‐exposure, it is at present mandatory that guidelines for UV‐exposure (e.g. in skin cancer prevention campaigns) consider these facts and give recommendations how to prevent vitamin D‐deficiency. At present, most experts in the field agree that the evidence to date suggests that daily intake of 1000–2000 IU vitamin D could reduce the incidence of vitamin D‐deficiency‐related diseases with minimal risk in Europe, the US, and other countries. In this review, we analyze the present literature to help developing well‐balanced guidelines on UV‐protection that ensure an adequate vitamin D‐status. These recommendations will hopefully protect us against vitamin D‐deficiency without increasing the risk to develop UV‐induced skin cancer.