Thursday, January 7, 2016

Higher Risk of Leukemia to Low Sunlight and Vitamin D

Epidemiologists at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that persons residing at higher latitudes, with lower sunlight/ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure and greater prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, are at least two times at greater risk of developing leukemia than equatorial populations.

The UC San Diego study analyzed age-adjusted incidence rates of leukemia in 172 countries from GLOBOCAN, an international agency for research on cancer that is part of the World Health Organization, comparing that information with cloud cover data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project. The study follows similar investigations by Garland and colleagues of other cancers, including breast, colon, pancreas, bladder and multiple myeloma. In each study, they found that reduced UVB radiation exposure and lower vitamin D levels were associated with higher risks of cancer.

Leukemia rates were highest in countries relatively closer to the poles, such as Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Ireland, Canada and the United States. They were lowest in countries closer to the equator, such as Bolivia, Samoa, Madagascar and Nigeria.

Read more:
UC San Diego Researchers Link Higher Risk of Leukemia to Low Sunlight and Vitamin D''


Source: UCSan Diago Health


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2 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 7, 2016 at 10:21 AM

    An interesting article. There are many cases of leukaemia in the Arabian Gulf. Although closer to the equator, the population are covered due to religious beliefs and therefore suffer many Vit-D related issues, including rickets. Most young women have low Vit-D despite the annual sunshine level. Most do not go out in the sunshine at all and do their socialising after sunset.

    Food for thought?

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  2. UnknownJanuary 7, 2016 at 8:53 PM

    Very good article. Thank you too for sharing your findings in the Arabian Gulf, Evelyn.

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