Tanning (Ultraviolet Radiation) May Protect Against Prostate Cancer
Tuesday April 24, 2007
Can tanning lower prostate cancer risk? Well, research has shown that prostate cancer incidence is lower among men diagnosed with skin cancer, according to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, suggesting that ultraviolet (UV) radiation may offer protection against the disease.
Research has shown that exposure to UV radiation causes skin cancer, but some scientists have theorized that it protects against prostate cancer development and progression.
In order to test this hypothesis, researchers in the Netherlands posited that it would be expected that skin cancer patients would have a lower incidence of prostate cancer than the general population and an especially low incidence of advanced (Stage III or Stage IV) prostate cancer.
The researchers followed over 13,500 male skin cancer patients to find their incidence of prostate cancer between the years 1972 through 2004. The team compared the prostate cancer incidence with the reference population of men during this time period.
They found an 11 percent reduction in prostate cancer in the skin-cancer group, and a 27 percent reduction in advanced (Stage III and Stage IV) prostate cancer development.
The researchers feel that this could indicate an anti-progression effect of UV radiation, and supports a growing body of evidence that UV exposure protects against prostate cancer, possibly through the formation of vitamin D by the skin for the body during sun exposure.
If this hypothesis should pan out, it would be important for public health messages to be modified to weigh the increased risk of skin cancer against the decreased risk of prostate cancer due to UV exposure.
Related Articles:
Research has shown that exposure to UV radiation causes skin cancer, but some scientists have theorized that it protects against prostate cancer development and progression.
In order to test this hypothesis, researchers in the Netherlands posited that it would be expected that skin cancer patients would have a lower incidence of prostate cancer than the general population and an especially low incidence of advanced (Stage III or Stage IV) prostate cancer.
The researchers followed over 13,500 male skin cancer patients to find their incidence of prostate cancer between the years 1972 through 2004. The team compared the prostate cancer incidence with the reference population of men during this time period.
They found an 11 percent reduction in prostate cancer in the skin-cancer group, and a 27 percent reduction in advanced (Stage III and Stage IV) prostate cancer development.
The researchers feel that this could indicate an anti-progression effect of UV radiation, and supports a growing body of evidence that UV exposure protects against prostate cancer, possibly through the formation of vitamin D by the skin for the body during sun exposure.
If this hypothesis should pan out, it would be important for public health messages to be modified to weigh the increased risk of skin cancer against the decreased risk of prostate cancer due to UV exposure.
Related Articles:
- Vitamin D May Lower Prostate Cancer Risk
- Vitamin D and Sunlight May Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk
- Activated Vitamin D May Help the Sickest Prostate Cancer Patients
- More Evidence: Vitamin D Lowers Prostate Cancer Risk
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