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. [email protected]

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 Vitamin D Life

• Solar UVB reduces Cancer Risk – Grant, Jan 2013

• All items in category Cancer and vitamin D 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:

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Perhaps UV Fluctuations are more important than the UV absolute level

CLICK HERE for more information

See also Vitamin D Life - 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