Ecological Studies of the UVB–Vitamin D–Cancer Hypothesis
Anticancer Research January 2012 vol. 32 no. 1 223-236
WILLIAM B. GRANT, Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 641603, San Francisco, CA 94164-1603, U.S.A. wbgrant@infionline.net
Background/Aim: This paper reviews ecological studies of the ultraviolet-B (UVB)–vitamin D–cancer hypothesis based on geographical variation of cancer incidence and/or mortality rates.
Materials and Methods: The review is based largely on three ecological studies of cancer rates from the United States; one each from Australia, China, France, Japan, and Spain; and eight multicountry, multifactorial studies of cancer incidence rates from more than 100 countries.
Results:
This review consistently found strong inverse correlations with solar UVB for 15 types of cancer:
- bladder,
- breast,
- cervical,
- colon,
- endometrial,
- esophageal,
- gastric,
- lung,
- ovarian,
- pancreatic,
- rectal,
- renal, and
- vulvar cancer; and
- Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Weaker evidence exists for nine other types of cancer:
brain, gallbladder, laryngeal, oral/pharyngeal, prostate, and thyroid cancer; leukemia; melanoma; and multiple myeloma.
Conclusion: The evidence for the UVB–vitamin D–cancer hypothesis is very strong in general and for many types of cancer in particular.
See also VitaminDWiki
- Solar UVB reduces Cancer Risk – Grant, Jan 2013
- All items in category Cancer and vitamin D
293 items - Review of possible ways that vitamin D fights cancer – Jan 2012
- Overview of Cancer and Vitamin D
- Mechanisms of the Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory - 2011.PDF
- Cancers and Vitamin D Council and Dr. Grant (same author)
- Vitamin D and Cancer Treatment and Prevention – presentations May 2011
- China has documented that less UV results in more cancer – June 2010 - esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, lung, breast, and bladder
- Brain cancer in 175 countries related to low UVB and low vitamin D – Oct 2010
Stronger correlation for women than for men- UV decreased breast cancer risk by up to 2X – June 2011
- Cloudiness and Breast Cancer PDF file
- Breast Cancer vs latitude Gapminder - Great U shaped curve
- Need lots of UV AND vitamin D to reduce risk of breast cancer – Jan 2011
- Breast cancer more deadly for blacks than whites
- A review of the evidence regarding the solar ultraviolet-B-vitamin D-cancer hypothesis - Oct 2012
- Lack of solar UVB in US is associated with some Cancers - 2006
Strong Evidence: bladder, colon, Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, other biliary, prostate, rectum, stomach, uterus, and vulva.
Weaker Evidence: breast, kidney, leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, pancreas, and small intestine.
Has a great map of UV for the US
Items in both categories Cancer and UV are listed here:- 23 Cancers in the US are associated with low UVB - Grant April 2024
- Some cancer rates are reduced when live at high altitude, but other cancers increase after a few generations – March 2021
- Book: Sunlight, UV, Vitamin D and Receptor, Skin and other Cancers - Dec 2020
- More Cancer if less sun – model adding climate helps (need additional factors) – Nov 2019
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 20 percent more likely if low UV – meta-analysis April 2019
- Embrace the Sun – benefits of the sun (Nitric Oxide etc.) – book June 2018
- Less intestinal cancer in mice if add vitamin D, but even less with ultraviolet light – June 2014
- Cancer incidence in 87 countries is related to food, smoking, alcohol, GDP, and UVB - Jan 2014
- 4 uses of tanning beds per year did not reduce rate of internal cancers – Oct 2013
- Some childhood cancer 30% less likely in parts of California with more UVB – April 2013
- The sun appears better at reducing incidence of some cancers than vitamin D – Dec 2012
- Solar UVB reduces Cancer Risk – Grant, Jan 2013
- A review of the evidence regarding the solar ultraviolet-B-vitamin D-cancer hypothesis - Oct 2012
- More UVB is associated with less cancer – study of 450,000 people – April 2012
- Getting little UV is associated with 15 types of Cancer – Jan 2012
- Lack of solar UVB in US is associated with some Cancers - 2006
- Use of tanning beds would reduce associated deaths by 10X – Oct 2011
- Some cancer due to low UV – Grant – April 2010
- China has documented that less UV results in more cancer – June 2010
- Grassroots PDF and video updates May and June 2010
Perhaps UV Fluctuations are more important than the UV absolute level
CLICK HERE for more information
See also VitaminDWiki - MS
- MS is related to latitude – conclusion from 321 studies – April 2011
- Lack of UV 20X more associated with MS than any other variable – Dec 2010
- Why has the MS latitude gradient disappeared – Oct 2011 Which could happen with Cancers as well
MS Latitude correlation - Garland smile graph
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