The Sun Controversy – Do the Benefits of Vitamin D Outweigh the Risks?

The American Academy of Dermatology has launched a “Don’t Seek the Sun” campaign, reminding us of grim statistics: 1 million cases of skin cancer annually associated with the sun. Yet, in one issue of the National Cancer Institute’s Journal two independent studies suggested that sunlight may reduce the risk of certain cancers. Now, some scientists are “wondering if warning people away from solar rays is doing more harm than good. Are we inviting some diseases – including common cancers – to avoid skin cancers?
Michael Thun, M.D., chief epidemiologist for the American Cancer Society, told the Associated Press that the recent findings have caused the society to review the vitamin D evidence as part of an on-going evaluation of its sun-protection guidelines: “There is now intriguing evidence that vitamin D may have a role in the prevention as well as treatment of certain cancers.”
One reason sunlight is considered important is that vitamin D is relatively scarce in foods. Vitamin D is contained in milk, fortified cereals and juice, and a few types of fish, but is probably not consumed at sufficient levels to meet the recommended daily requirements for vitamin D, and certainly not at levels needed to ward off cancer. On the other hand, just 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure at midday is enough to make 20,000 IUs of vitamin D.
Ultimately, more research is needed. “The proof for a cancer benefit of vitamin D is not airtight,” says Dr. Edward Giovannucci, one of the researchers defending the sun.
SOURCE: TUFTS UNIVERSITY HEALTH & NUTRITION LETTER Aug. 2005, Vol. 23, No. 6 pp4-5