Sunlight, Vitamin D and Skin Cancer

CONTENTS 1. Sunlight, UV-Radiation, Vitamin D and Skin Cancer: How Much Sunlight Do We Need?....................................................... 1 Michael F. Holick Abstract................................................................................................................................. 1 Prehistorical and Historic Perspectives.............................................................................. 1 Photoproduction of Vitamin D3............................................................................................ 2 Factors Controlling Cutaneous Vitamin D Synthesis........................................................ 2 Sources and Metabolism of Vitamin D................................................................................ 4 Role of Vitamin D in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases................................................. 5 Vitamin D Deficiency Pandemic.......................................................................................... 7 Sunlight, Vitamin D and the Skin Cancer Conundrum.................................................... 7 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 10 2. Solar Ultrav iolet Irradiance and Cancer Incidence and Mortality...................................................................... 16 William B. Grant Introduction........................................................................................................................ 16 Cancer................................................................................................................................. 16 Other Diseases for Which Solar UVB and Vitamin D Are Beneficial/Protective.......... 25 Summary and Conclusion.................................................................................................. 25 3. Vitamin D Status and Cancer Incidence and

From the reviews:"Small print, information dense and richly referenced volume ... of the current knowledge on this controversial topic. The text covers history, epidemiology, biochemistry, histology, immunology, and molecular biology. ... Lactation consultants depend on advice from public health officials to counsel their clients as well as to care for their own families. They can confidently use the content of this book to pressure officials to formulate recommendations that are more in line with the needs of the general population, including breastfeeding babies." (Nicole J Bernshaw, International Lactation Consultant Association Print and Multimedia Reviews, August, 2008)