Are we really dying for a tan?

Ness, Andy R; Frankel, Stephen; Gunnell, David; Smith, George Davey

doi:10.1136/bmj.319.7202.114

Cited by 50 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Furthermore, with the risk of skin cancer increasing [26], more people may attempt to reduce their exposure to ultraviolet light with additional clothing and/or the application of sunscreen creams. This may have an adverse impact on vitamin D status [27] and ultimately, may increase reliance on the diet as a source of vitamin D. The main food sources of vitamin D in Northern Ireland are oily ®sh, eggs, forti®ed margarine/fat spreads, and forti®ed breakfast cereals (North-South Ireland Food Consumption Survey 2000, unpublished observation), all of which were accounted for in the dietary analysis. The results from the present observational study are slightly constrained by the lack of BMD measurements during adolescence and cannot prove causality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Nutrient Intake on Bone Mineral Status in Young Adults: The Northern Ireland Young Hearts Project

Neville

Robson

Murray³

et al. 2002

Calcified Tissue International

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Nutrient Intake on Bone Mineral Status in Young Adults: The Northern Ireland Young Hearts Project

Neville

Robson

Murray³

et al. 2002

Calcified Tissue International

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“…Fortunately, as research has amply shown, many people do not respond to health messages, especially when the message is in conflict with personal perceptions of good health, e.g. a rosy or tanned as opposed to a pale complexion, and feels wrong, as sun avoidance messages have for many people in the UK [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Sunlight robbery: A critique of public health policy on vitamin D in the UK

Gillie

2010

Molecular Nutrition Food Res

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The British Isles have a very cloudy climate and as a result receive fewer hours of clear sunlight than most other industrial regions. The majority of people in these islands have low blood levels of vitamin D [25(OH)D] all year round. Few food products are fortified with vitamin D in the UK and the government does not recommend any vitamin D supplement for most adults in the UK. Diseases associated with vitamin D insufficiency such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes (types 1 and 2) and multiple sclerosis are more frequent in the UK, and particularly in Scotland, than in many other European countries and some, such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes (types 1 and 2), are increasing in incidence. Present knowledge suggests that the risk of some chronic diseases could be reduced if vitamin D intake or sun exposure of the population were increased. Yet policy and public health recommendations of the UK government and its agencies (e.g. the Health Protection Agency, the Food Standards Agency) and of Cancer Research UK have failed to take full account of established and putative benefits of vitamin D and/or sunshine. The epidemic of chronic disease in the UK, which is associated with and caused at least in part by vitamin D insufficiency, has not been adequately recognized by these agencies, and too often measures taken by them have been misguided, inappropriate or ineffective.

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“…In adr r dition, low circulating serum levels of vitamin D show a positive correlation with measures of type 2 diabetes such as insulin resistance and pancreatic betar cell dysfunction. 51 Adequate vitamin D during the prenatal period may decrease the risk of later development of schizophrenia 52 and lack of sun exposure may have a role in seasonal affective disorder, 53 mood disturbances 54 and on circadian rhythms (i.e. sleep/wake cycles).…”

Section: Vitamin D Insufficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the current public health message on UV exposure correct?

Lucas

Repacholi

McMichael

2006

Bull World Health Organ

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Current sun safety messages stress the importance of sun protection in avoiding the consequences of excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), such as skin cancers, cataracts and other eye diseases, and viral infections caused by UV-induced immunosuppression. However, adequate exposure to UVR has an important role in human health, primarily through UV-induced production of vitamin D, a hormone essential to bone health. Vitamin D insufficiency may be associated with increased risks of some cancers, autoimmune diseases and mental health disorders such as schizophrenia. Here, we review the evolution of current sun exposure practices and sun-safe messages and consider not only the benefits, but also the detrimental effects that such messages may have. UVR-induced vitamin D production can be inhibited by factors such as deep skin pigmentation, indoor lifestyles, older age, sun avoidance behaviours and clothing habits that limit skin exposure, with deleterious consequences for health. There is some early evidence that sun-safe messages are beginning to cause a decrease in skin cancer rates in young people. After the widespread promotion of sun safety, it may now be appropriate to refine public health messages to take better account of variations between groups and their susceptibility to the dangers and benefits of sun exposure. Voir page 489 le résumé en français. En la página 489 figura un resumen en español.

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Are we really dying for a tan?

Cited by 50 publications

References 18 publications

The Effect of Nutrient Intake on Bone Mineral Status in Young Adults: The Northern Ireland Young Hearts Project

The Effect of Nutrient Intake on Bone Mineral Status in Young Adults: The Northern Ireland Young Hearts Project

Sunlight robbery: A critique of public health policy on vitamin D in the UK

Is the current public health message on UV exposure correct?

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