- Staying out of the sun completely may increase your chances
of developing cancer, say doctors.
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- For years, experts have advised people to cover up in
the sun to protect themselves from skin cancer.
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- But a letter in this week's British Medical Journal warns
people against taking this advice to the extreme.
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- Professor Cedric Garland from the University of California
said a lack of sun can reduce levels of vitamin D, which may increase the
risk of cancer.
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- The sun is a major source of vitamin D. Studies have
suggested this vitamin can protect against colon, breast, prostate and
other cancers.
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- Sun exposure
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- Professor Garland said people living in Britain should
ensure they are get between 10 and 15 minutes of sun exposure each day,
weather permitting.
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- "Residents of the UK should aim for 10 to 15 minutes
a day in the sun when the weather allows, without sunscreen to allow adequate
synthesis of vitamin D," he wrote.
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- "Our diet is also an important source of Vitamin
D"
- --Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK
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- He also suggested they should supplement their diets
to ensure they are getting enough vitamin D, particularly during winter.
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- "Since the UK is located at northern latitudes supplementation
of the diet with vitamin D would be helpful, in addition to encouraging
moderate exposure to the sun," he wrote.
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- Professor Garland said a lack of sun during the winter
months meant many Britons are deficient in this vitamin by December each
year.
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- "People in the UK cannot synthesise vitamin D from
November to the end of March," he said. "They become deficient
by December."
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- He said that while avoiding the sun completely may reduce
the risks of skin cancer, it could increase the chances of developing other
cancers.
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- "Advice to avoid the sun would not be the best strategy
for reducing overall incidence of cancer," he said.
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- However, cancer charities warned that even short spells
in the sun could cause skin damage.
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- A spokeswoman for Macmillan Cancer Relief said: "Of
course the sun has many qualities, however, it's best to be sensible about
the amount of time spent sunbathing.
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- "Staying in the sun for 15 minutes a day, especially
at midday, could cause skin damage for some types of people.
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- "For those who do want to sunbathe the best time
to avoid the sun is between 11am and 3pm when the sun will be at its hottest
and to use a high factor skin cream."
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- Healthy diet
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- Sara Hiom, information manager at Cancer Research UK,
said: "It may be that vitamin D can help reduce the risk of certain
cancers.
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- "People don't need to seek out the sun to get Vitamin
D - they are most likely to get all they need from going out and about
in their daily routine.
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- "Our diet is also an important source of Vitamin
D - dairy products, some meats, eggs and fish oils all contain this important
vitamin."
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- She added: "We do not advocate complete avoidance
of the sun, but we caution against sun exposure that leads to tanning and
burning, both of which are evidence of skin damage that can lead to skin
cancer.
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- "There is no doubt that excessive UV radiation is
the major cause of skin cancer."
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- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3226184.stm
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