UVB

Vitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

Published on
6995 views
vitamin and multiple sclerosis

Modern lifestyles are countering nature’s intentions to keep us healthy. Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century, we have migrated from farms to factories and office buildings. Nature intended for us to live and work outdoors in the sun—without sunscreen. Today most of us live and work indoors—often wearing sunscreen, or cosmetics containing sunscreen. By doing so, we have denied our bodies one of the most fundamental sources of health: the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays of the sun that initiate vitamin D protection in our skin.

Compelling scientific evidence over the past century indicates the significant role vitamin D plays in protecting us from developing a wide variety of medical conditions including autism, autoimmune disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and thyroid disorders. It is not a coincidence that the prevalence of these diseases has emerged during “modern” times. These medical conditions, many of which are serious, chronic, and life-threatening, frequently result in health, financial, and social burdens to the patients and their families.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) befits a disease of modern civilization. First identified by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot in 1868, MS is a chronic, neurological autoimmune disorder that damages the myelin sheath, the multiple layers of fatty tissue that surround and protect the nerves in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. When the myelin sheath is intact, electrical impulses are carried through the nerves with accuracy and speed. When the myelin sheath is damaged (sclerosis is the scar tissue formed by damaged myelin), the nerves do not conduct electrical impulses normally. The impulses are distorted or interrupted, resulting in a range of symptoms including numbness, blindness, paralysis, and brain damage. MS also can result in death.

Who is at Risk of Developing MS?

Despite the identification of MS almost 150 years ago, MS has no cure. Over 2.5 million people around the world have been diagnosed with MS including about 400,000 Americans. Women are to two to three times more likely to develop MS than men. Although MS is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, the disease can strike at any age. In addition, Caucasian women of Northern European descent are more frequently diagnosed with MS than African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians.

As part of the Environmental Risk Factors in MS Study (EnvIMS), researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway sought to understand better the association between MS and sun exposure measures by studying a total of 1,660 MS patients and 3,050 controls from Norway and Italy. The researchers’ findings included significant connections between infrequent summer outdoor activity and sunscreen use and an increased risk of MS. Published in the January 10, 2014 issue of Multiple Sclerosis, the study’s conclusion stated, “Converging evidence from different measures underlines the beneficial effect of sun exposure on MS risk.”

It is not surprising that incidences of MS in the equatorial region occur much less frequently than at the higher latitudes. Epidemiological studies over the past several decades however indicate that women who live at higher latitudes have an increased risk of developing MS. For example, University of Oxford researchers studied MS patterns in Scotland by examining hospital admissions throughout the country between 1997 and 2009. The research team discovered a “highly significant relationship between MS-patient-linked admissions and latitude” across Scotland. This study was published in a 2011 issue of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) One journal.

In addition, a seasonal risk factor also exists for MS. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London conducted a systematic review of data for 151,978 MS patients to ascertain the link between month and location of birth, and the risk of developing MS. They found that babies born in April had the highest risk of development of MS, and infants born in October enjoyed the lowest risk of MS. The researchers also noted a direct correlation between the latitudinal location of expectant mothers and MS risk. The study, published in a 2012 issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, suggests the importance of maternal vitamin D supplementation in particular during the winter season.

What Causes MS?

The definitive cause of MS remains unknown but medical research suggests genetic and environmental factors influence one’s risk of developing MS. Interestingly enough, science has demonstrated that vitamin D plays a role in influencing environmental and genetic factors that may affect how likely one is to develop MS.

A landmark study at the University of Oxford, published in a 2009 issue of Public Library of Science (PLoS) Genetics, examined how genes and the environment interact in MS. A gene variant called HLA-DRB*1501 is associated with an increased risk of developing MS. The research team discovered how vitamin D influences the HLA-DRB*1501 gene variant. As we know, the amount of vitamin D synthesized by UVB sunlight exposure fluctuates from season to season. Therefore, women who give birth during the spring, carry the HLA-DRB*1501 gene variant, and have low vitamin D levels are more likely to produce children with a higher risk of developing MS.

The study’s author Dr. Sreeram Ramagopalan suggested that adequate vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancies may decrease the risk of children developing MS in later life. The combination of carrying the HLA-DRB*1501 gene variant and lacking adequate vitamin D levels may impair the ability of the thymus, an immune system organ, to delete rogue T cells, a type of white blood cells, that play an important role in maximizing the immune cells. The rogue cells would attack the body, causing demyelination of the central nervous system.

How Can Vitamin D Protect Against MS?

MS is a neurological autoimmune disorder. Scientific research over the past few decades solidifies the connection between vitamin D and autoimmunity. Vitamin D plays an integral role in the regulation of the adaptive immune system.

Adequate vitamin D in our bodies can protect us from autoimmunity because adaptive immune cells contain vitamin D receptors (VDRs). These receptors are attached to the surface of the adaptive immune system’s antibodies and sensitized lymphocytes. When the VDRs receive adequate amounts of vitamin D, they enable the adaptive immune system to function properly by attacking new and previous invaders.

When the VDRs attached to the adaptive immune system’s cells do not contain sufficient vitamin D to attack invaders, autoimmunity may kick in, causing the death of healthy immune cells. Thus, vitamin D deficiency can contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders such as MS.

How Can Vitamin D Treat MS?

The scientific community is delivering hope to MS patients by investigating vitamin D intake as a treatment for the disease. Research suggests that higher vitamin D levels are associated with reduced disease activity in MS sufferers.

Dr. Alberto Ascherio of Harvard University’s School of Public Health and colleagues recently concluded that vitamin D appears to be connected with MS disease activity and progression in patients who experienced an initial episode suggestive of MS and were treated with interferon β-1b. The researchers found that 20 ng/mL-increases of vitamin D levels within the first 12 months of experiencing an initial episode predicted a 57 percent lower rate of new active lesions as well as a lower risk of relapse. In addition, the results included a 25 percent decrease in annual T2 brain lesion volume and a 0.41 percent lower yearly loss in brain volume over four years. The Harvard study was electronically published on January 20, 2014 in JAMA Neurology.

According to a study published in a 2012 issue of the Annals of Neurology, a University of California, San Francisco research team examined 469 male and female MS patients over five years to ascertain how vitamin D affected disease progression. The researchers discovered that for each increase of 10 ng/mL in vitamin D levels, the MS patients benefited from a corresponding 15 percent decrease in new brain lesions as well as a 32 percent lower risk in inflammation of the myelin sheath.

A Finnish study, published in a 2012 issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, concluded that vitamin D3 supplementation significantly reduced the number of brain lesions in MS patients undergoing interferon β-1b treatment.

Paving a Way to Better Health and Quality of Life

Adequate vitamin D levels in our body may indeed protect us from developing MS. If you have experienced a possible initial episode or have been diagnosed with MS, please consider how vitamin D3 supplementation may decrease the severity of your symptoms.

We must take ownership of our health by understanding the importance of vitamin D as well as other micronutrients. Why wait years, or decades, to garner the results of further studies and clinical trials to define the exact relationship between vitamin D status and MS. We can be proactive by taking daily vitamin D3 supplements and enjoying moderate sunlight exposure to increase our vitamin D levels.

It is imperative to take enough vitamin D so this essential nutrient will be stored in your cells to help regulate your immune system. The greater your vitamin D level (easily obtained from a simple blood test called 25(OH) vitamin D), the more likely you will benefit from a stronger immune system that will protect your body’s cells from attacking one another.

No one wants to endure the health, financial, and social burdens of a chronic debilitating disease. By empowering yourself with adequate vitamin D, you may not only reap lots of health benefits but enjoy a better quality of life.

We Need Your Help

More people than ever are reading Hormones Matter, a testament to the need for independent voices in health and medicine. We are not funded and accept limited advertising. Unlike many health sites, we don’t force you to purchase a subscription. We believe health information should be open to all. If you read Hormones Matter, like it, please help support it. Contribute now.

Yes, I would like to support Hormones Matter. 

To Learn More

 

 

Image credit: Stephanie021299, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This post was published here originally on March 4, 2014. 

Copyright © 2014 by Susan Rex Ryan. All rights reserved.

Related posts:

migraines and birth controlMigraines and Birth Control: A Neglected Stop Sign birth control thyroidBirth Control is Bad News for Thyroid and Liver health, healing and illnessThe Exquisite Simplicity of Health and Illness: Mitochondria and Energy pregnancy heart complications thiamineHeart Problems, Pregnancy, and Nutrient Deficiency

You might be interested in

Summer’s Best Bargain: Free Vitamin D

Published on
3553 views
sunshine vitamin D

The warmest season of the year is around the corner. Many of us are looking forward to school holidays, work vacations, and relaxing. And shopping often accompanies our summer fun. So take advantage of the best bargain of the season: better health – for free! That’s right, I am talking about sunshine: the light emitting from the fiery heart of our solar system. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun provide us with an essential nutrient called vitamin D. Yes, this is the vitamin that not only strengthens our bones and muscles but may significantly protect us from a wide range of serious diseases including autoimmune disorders, cancer, contagious illnesses, diabetes, and heart disease, according to a plethora of credible medical studies from around the world.

Many people—across generations and geographical locations—suffer from low vitamin D levels from lifestyles that do not include unprotected sunbathing. Since the late 1980’s, the medical community has emphasized the need to “shun the sun” to avoid skin cancer. Consumers have embraced this advice by spending billions of dollars so they can slather chemical-laden lotions with exponentially increasing sun protection factors all over their bodies. This behavior has resulted in a vitamin D deficiency epidemic.

Moderate sun exposure is healthy for most individuals. Our bodies possess an inherent mechanism to process only the necessary intake of sun rays, about 20,000 international units of vitamin D. After our skin is exposed to direct sunlight under optimal conditions for about 20 minutes, its safety mechanism turns off the initial production of vitamin D. For many folks, it is then time to move to the shade or don additional protection to reduce the risk of sunburn.

Optimal conditions to enjoy summer’s vitamin D depend on a number of factors that we can, and in some cases, cannot control. These factors include:

Geographic location. The closer you are to the equator and the higher your altitude the better your opportunity to acquire vitamin D-rich sunlight.

Time of day. The window of sunlight between 10:00 in the morning and 2:00 in the afternoon is optimal. If your shadow is shorter than your height, you are in the potential vitamin D-producing time frame.

Sky clarity. An azure sky is highly preferable to cloud cover. UVB light is decreased by about 50 percent when penetrating clouds. Ozone pollution absorbs UVB rays before they reach your skin.

Skin. The less clothing, makeup, and sunscreen you wear, the better the odds that your skin can produce vitamin D. It also is important to understand that melanin, the pigment in your skin, absorbs UVB rays. The lighter your skin, the better chance you can make vitamin D more efficiently.

Age. Youth trumps older ages because the concentration of the vitamin D precursor in our skin, called 7-dehydrocholesterol, decreases with age.

Weight. Less weight means typically more vitamin D production from the sun. As vitamin D is fat-soluble, the body’s fat cells more rapidly absorb vitamin D, decreasing its availability to organs, tissues, and cells.

You may be thinking, “I live near sea level, far from the equator, in mostly cloudy conditions with cool summer temperatures; work full-time during the day; and am dark-skinned and overweight. How on earth (literally) can I get any measurable vitamin D from the sun?” Take advantage of sunny weather by enjoying an outdoor lunch break. Remove that hat, roll up your sleeves, and soak in the sun. Ten minutes of sun exposure is better than none.

Each individual’s options for absorbing nature’s gift of vitamin D may differ.* Fortunately, widely available sources of vitamin D including vitamin D3 supplements may be highly effective in raising your body’s D levels to protect you from a wide array of medical conditions. The information about, and benefits of, vitamin D could fill a book. In fact, I am so impressed with vitamin D’s health benefits that I recently published a book called Defend Your Life to encourage people to improve their health by taking vitamin D.

Happy summer, and happy health!

*Persons who have developed sarcoidosis, specific granulomatous diseases, and rare cancers may experience hypersensitivity to sunlight exposure.

Copyright © 2013 by Susan Rex Ryan
All rights reserved.

Image by pixel2013 from Pixabay .

Related posts:

vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

Nature’s Gift: A Vitamin D3 Tan

Published on
17223 views
vitamin d tan

Since I live in a desert and visit tropical places, I am thrilled to enjoy yet another benefit of vitamin D3: a natural tan!  For many years, the sun acted as my nemesis. I was born with fair skin, blue eyes, and light-colored hair. Despite my mom’s best efforts to protect me from the sun (including lots of sunscreen lotion), our family trips to the beach usually resulted  in sunburn for me. “Lobster red” burnt skin continued to plague me following direct sun exposure until I discovered the benefits of vitamin D3. Now that my levels have reached a significant level on the testing spectrum, I noticed that my skin no longer burns! In fact, for someone as light-skinned as me, I often sport a bit of a tan, at least on my arms and face. Why the dramatic change?

Scientific studies1 over the past 17 years have indicated that vitamin D3 may protect the skin from ultraviolet (UV) sunlight damage. This occurs when adequate levels of activated vitamin D3 in the skin’s cells increase the skin’s ability to withstand UV exposure. However, when UV light strikes the skin of people who are low in vitamin D3, high levels of nitric oxide, a free radical, are released in the body, causing potential DNA damage.

Thus, a natural vitamin D3 tan can only occur when your vitamin D3 levels are optimal. How do know if your vitamin levels are adequate? Get your blood tested by your healthcare practitioner (or via reputable on-line pharmacies). The name of the test is 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D. A number of experts believe that a healthy level of circulating vitamin D3 is between 50-80 ng/mL. Personally, my vitamin D3 level hovers around 100 ng/mL.

So, by increasing your vitamin D3 levels through supplementation, not only will you significantly improve your overall health and well-being, you also may get a great tan!

1Feldman D, Pike JW, Adams JS. Vitamin D (Third Edition), Volume II.  Academic Press.  2011.

Author’s Note: This article, posted on Hormones Matter website, is the fifth in Sue Ryan’s series about vitamin D3.  To read other articles about Vitamin D, click Here.

Additional information about vitamin D3’s benefits is available in Sue’s book, “Defend Your Life.” Follow Sue’s commentary on vitamin D3 and other health topics on Twitter @VitD3Sue.

Copyright ©2012 by Susan Rex Ryan

All rights reserved.

We Need Your Help

Hormones Matter needs funding now. Our research funding was cut recently and because of our commitment to independent health research and journalism unbiased by commercial interests we allow minimal advertising on the site. That means all funding must come from you, our readers. Don’t let Hormones Matter die.

Yes, I’d like to support Hormones Matter.

This story was published originally on Hormones Matter in July 2014.

Related posts:

vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

Soaking in Mother Nature’s Goodness: The Sunscreen Smokescreen

Published on
2987 views

Cancer is a word that strikes fear in most. We’re a society concerned with taking preventative measures to avoid getting “The Big C.”  We know to use sunscreen when outdoors and chow down on “super foods” rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals to help lower our cancer risk. The antioxidants found naturally in foods can counter free radicals that are produced in our bodies from exposure to environmental toxins and carcinogens such as tobacco smoke and radiation – except when they are covered in toxins that limit their antioxidant capabilities.

Strawberries are well known as a super food, rich in the antioxidants vitamin C, ellagic acid and flavonoids that suppress a DNA-damaging enzyme linked to lung cancer. Strawberries are 98-99% water, making them the perfect sponges for all the goodness that Mother Nature provides… that is, until Man mucks things up. The primary pesticide used on U.S. strawberry farms, methyl bromide, is highly carcinogenic and toxic to the central nervous system. Pesticides serve to protect strawberries from damage by insects, fungus, rodents and disease, but the sad truth is we would be better off eating a strawberry covered in insects than one that is literally a pesticide-soaked sponge. In some cases, the use of sunscreen is very similar to the use of pesticides on strawberries, in which the chemicals used to block the sun’s radiation, may do more harm than good. Let me explain.

The Sunscreen Smokescreen

Previously, I wrote about tanning basics and the benefits of sunscreen. I’m lucky to live in a coastal town where there is much to do outdoors; beach, hiking, taking our workouts outdoors, and leisurely drives with the top down. My fellow health fanatics and I know to use sunscreen to protect ourselves from the sun’s damaging rays, but more importantly, we know that not all sunscreens are created equal. There are some that actually contain cancer-causing ingredients, resulting in the exact scenario we’re trying so diligently to prevent… similar to our strawberry sponge. Like the strawberry we’re made up of mostly water, up to 60% in the average adult body. Like the strawberry we absorb our environment into our systems, for better or worse.

Clearing the Smokescreen

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is the nation’s leading environmental health research and advocacy organization on a mission to provide consumers with no-fluff facts to make healthier choices. EWG offers nine surprising facts about sunscreens which we would be wise to heed. Ultimately, we just want to know which sunscreens are best for us:

Bigger isn’t always better. High sun protection factor (SPF) products tempt us to apply too little sunscreen and stay in the sun too long. The FDA has proposed prohibiting sunscreen sales with SPF values greater than 50+ as they are “inherently misleading,” but there is no current regulation that carries the force of law. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. It’s also important to note that SPF refers only to protection against UVB radiation (responsible for sunburns), but SPF has no bearing on UVA rays, the beast which penetrates deep skin layers. Wise consumers need to read the label for products that offer both UVA and UBV ray protection.

Grade A fail. Vitamin A is a well known antioxidant that slows skin aging, and is a common sunscreen additive. Nearly one-quarter of all sunscreens contain vitamin A (often labeled as “retinyl palmitate” or “retinol”), but studies indicate that vitamin A may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to skin in the presence of sunlight. EWG recommends that consumers avoid sunscreens, lip products and skin lotions containing vitamin A.

Disruption junction. Some sunscreen ingredients disrupt hormones and cause skin allergies. Our current choices are either chemical or mineral sunscreens:

  • Chemical sunscreens have inferior stability, penetrate the skin and may disrupt our hormone system. Benzophenone-3 is labeled as oxybenzone, a common sunscreen ingredient which penetrates the skin, is absorbed into our bloodstream and acts like estrogen in the body. In fact, it mimics estrogen even more so than bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical found in certain plastics that has received much attention lately for its toxic effects. Oxybenzone can trigger allergic reactions, and preliminary data connect higher oxybenzone blood concentrations with significant female health issues. While the cause of endometriosis is not known, estrogen fuels this painful condition. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology in 2012 links oxybenzone to endometriosis in older women, while another 2008 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that women with higher oxybenzone blood levels during pregnancy had lower birth weight daughters.
  • Mineral sunscreens consist of zinc and titanium dioxide, often “micronized” or in nano-particles. Manufacturers micronized particles to help reduce or eliminate the chalky white tint that minerals leave on the skin, but this comes with a trade-off. The smaller the particles, the better the SPF protection BUT at a cost to UVA protection.

If you can breathe it in, don’t buy it. Loose powder cosmetics with sunscreen properties, intended for the face and scalp, often contain tiny particles of zinc and titanium that offer strong UV protection by sticking to the skin. The problem arises when loose powder ends up in our lungs when we breathe in loose airborne particles. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies inhaled titanium dioxide as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Current FDA over-the-counter rules prohibit loose powders to advertise an SPF or make claims of sun protection, but small companies currently have a grace period to remove powders from the market. Sprays sunscreens are popular due to their convenience, but there’s growing concern of their inhalation risk. Sprays are also hit or miss, leaving areas exposed without protection.

Say bug off to bug repellents. Sunscreen and bug repellent combos may seem like a great idea, but the risks outweigh the benefits as repellents typically contain chemicals such as DEET (also listed on labels as N, N-Diethyl-m-toluamide or N, N-Diethyl-3-Methyl benzamide). DEET is a highly effective repellent, but is also littered with health concerns ranging from topical irritations to lethargy, confusion, disorientation and mood swings. It’s also an environmental toxin that breaks down slowly in soil, with detrimental effects coursing through waterways to all living things. There are also studies that show combining sunscreen and repellents lead to increased skin absorption of the repellent ingredients, which is discouraged for health reasons.

Towelettes are for eating fried chicken. Sunscreen wipes and towelettes were prohibited in 2011 by the FDA due to concerns that there wasn’t enough sunscreen to ensure skin protection. Keep in mind that small companies have a grace period to remove them from their product lines, so just because you see something for sale doesn’t mean it’s good for you.

Tanning Oil + SPF = Oxymoron. Some tanning oils appear to be a healthy choice because they contain SPF protection; however, the SPF levels are typically low and offer no true protection. Bottom line, tanning results from cellular DNA damage which leads to skin cancer.

All that said, the sun isn’t taboo. Don’t go running from it to hide in dark shady spots. Sunlight is critical for our bodies to produce vitamin D, which is important in strengthening bones and the immune system, reducing the risk of breast, colon, kidney and ovarian cancers, and perhaps other disorders. Life is short. Enjoy it… but enjoy it wisely.

This was posted previously June 2013.

Related posts:

sunscreen and coral reefsReefs, Redox and ROS: The Sunscreen Dilemma vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

Beauty is Only Skin Deep – Tanning Basics

Published on
2914 views

This week marks spring season’s jump back into our lives (YAY!), and I celebrated by wearing a dress to work on Monday. Office mate said, “Nice legs, but you could use some sun.” I laughed and had to explain that I don’t tan because I avoid sun damage. I would rather look pale versus tan; appear sickly versus healthy. Think about that word play irony. The way to get that “healthy” tan is primarily via exposure to the sun, tanning beds or artificial topical tanning treatments, all of which are lower on the healthy totem pole by comparison to simply leaving our skin alone.

The amount of misinformation available online is hilarious. A simple Google search for “how do you get a tan?” revealed the answer, “what makes you tan is melon that works hard in your skin and gets a darker color.” Melon, eh? The mass majority know this is false. What is not hilarious is there are many who flock to tanning salons for what they believe is the safe alternative to baking in the sun.

What is Tanning?

A tan is basically injury to the skin’s DNA. The skin reacts to UVA exposure by darkening in an attempt to prevent further DNA damage. The darker the tan, the more the mutations, and with enough mutations come skin cancer. Here’s how it works.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays damage the skin’s cellular DNA, and excessive UV radiation produces genetic mutations that can lead to skin cancer. UV radiation is considered the main cause of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). More than a million worldwide and 250,000 Americans are affected by skin cancer each year. Despite our wealth of knowledge as it relates to protecting our skin from the sun, many still seek that “healthy tan.”

UVB rays cause surface sunburns and vary by season, location and time of day. They are most intense in the U.S. between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM from April to October. While intensity varies, they can still burn and damage skin year-round, especially at high altitudes and on reflective surface. Snow or ice can reflect up to 80 percent of the ray. What does this mean? You get hit twice with the rays even during winter. One bit of good news is UVB rays do not significantly penetrate glass.

UVA rays are a different beast. They attack deeper connective tissue and trigger long-term damage such as skin cancer, wrinkles and sunspots. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, they are present with relatively equal intensity during all daylight hours year-round, and can penetrate clouds and glass. Recent studies show that UVA rays damage skin cells called keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, where most skin cancers occur.

What about Tanning Booths?

Tanning booths primarily emit UVA rays. The high-pressure sunlamps used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that of the sun. Statistically tanning salon users are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. According to recent research, first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.

Alarmingly, a recent congressional report exposes the tanning industry’s misleading messaging to teens. Specifically, Committee investigators found:

  • Nearly all salons denied the known risks of indoor tanning
  • 90% stated that indoor tanning did not pose a health risk
  • 51% denied that indoor tanning would increase a fair-skinned teenager’s risk of developing skin cancer
  • Salons thought the link between indoor tanning and skin cancer as “a big myth,” rumor,” and “hype”
  • 80% claimed that indoor tanning was beneficial to a young person’s health
  • Several salons even said that tanning would PREVENT cancer

Other health benefit claims included:

      • Vitamin D production
      • Treatment of depression and low self-esteem
      • Prevention of and treatment for arthritis
      • Weight loss
      • Prevention of osteoporosis
      • Reduction of cellulite

The report suggested that salons used a variety of approaches to minimize the health risks of indoor tanning, especially when marketing to young girls. Consequently, the general perception of teenaged girls was that “it’s got to be safe, or else they wouldn’t let us do it.”

The Skin Cancer Foundation is currently campaigning to generate letters of support urging the FDA to regulate tanning beds and ban those under 18 from using them. The Foundation feels the tanning salon industry’s misleading practices for the sake of revenue are putting the lives of people, particularly young women, at risk.

My feeling is we all make choices in our lives by weighing the risks involved, however, we deserve to be properly informed. I definitely partake in my share of risks, but I learned and chose early on to avoid skin damage by using SPF products in lieu of makeup (see here for all natural sunscreen products) or a “healthy tan.” For me, pale trumps skin damage or cancer any day. I shudder to think how many young women have already been affected by the myth that tanning beds are a healthy choice. Be proactive in staying informed. I can’t preach this enough. Beauty is only skin deep, and our true colors – tan or lack thereof – reveal the truth of what lies beneath it all.

Related posts:

keto basicsKeto Dieting: Understanding the Basics vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in

Is Any Type of Tanning Safe?

Published on
2381 views

It is important to note that I do not condone tanning. However, in light of the tanning-bed mamma and California’s obsession with tanned bodies, I wanted to learn how each method of tanning impacts our health, and which, if any, are better for our skin.

Why Do We Tan?

After some time in the sun, our bodies turn a shade darker (or more red), because we are exposing ourselves to Ultraviolet (UV) rays. We can’t actually see these waves, because they have a shorter wavelength than light, but they still penetrate the skin.

There are two types of UV rays that manage to get through the ozone layer: UVA rays and UV B rays. UVB rays result in sunburning and the reddening of the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin. UVA rays penetrate deeper layers of the skin and cause the body to tan.

UV Rays Can Cause Tan and Cancer

The problem is, these UV rays can damage the skin, suppress the immune system, and cause skin cancer. UVB rays are a known carcinogenic, while UVA rays were previously thought to only cause wrinkles and skin aging. Scientists are now finding, though, that UVA rays, which are far more abundant, are linked to skin cancer, too.

That beautiful tan the media markets to us is actually a result of damage done to the skin’s DNA: The skin darkens in order to protect itself and to prevent any additional skin damage, but this darkening is not sufficient protection.

Comparing Tanning Methods

Though some say sun exposure is necessary for your body to make Vitamin D, excessive sun exposure results in cumulative damage from UVA rays over time, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. The question is, do some tanning methods cause less damage to the skin than others?

Natural Sunlight

You will be bombarded by both UVA “tanning” rays and UVB “burning” rays when you are exposed to the sun, which means you will definitely be exposed to UVB rays, which are a known carcinogenic.

The majority of time in the sun you will be exposed to UVA rays, which make up 95% of the UV rays that warm your skin – not necessarily a good thing.

Tanning Beds

Tanning salons claim that their customers receive healthy doses of the sun’s rays, but the FDA found that newer, more powerful sunlamps emit 12 times as much UVA radiation as the sun.

Want to ask a Tanning Salon directly about the benefits? You may not find all the answers: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce found that most tanning salons made false claims regarding the health benefits of tanning and denied risks of tanning.

The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that tanning may even be an addictive behavior, which would explain the dire need to look like a leather belt.

The World Health Organization reported that the risk of being diagnosed with melanoma increases 75% if individuals use tanning beds before they are 30.

Spray Tanners

A number of consumers are now turning to sunless tanning options, like spray tanners, to get the sun-kissed skin without the sun. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is the active ingredient in many of these sprays and reacts with the amino acids in the outermost layer of the epidermis, which consists mostly of dead cells.

Duke University School of Medicine published research that stated there is no evidence that DHA is harmful to the body when applied to the body or consumed.

The same research determined that the DHA may react differently than expected when applied to your skin, resulting in discoloration, which could look ridiculous. They note the importance of prepping the skin prior to application of the spray tanner.

The University of Copenhagen found that tans that resulted from tanning sprays provided, at most, a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 3, which means you cannot rely on the tans to shield you from harmful rays.

Not all studies bode well for sunless tanners: Researchers in Denmark and Poland state that DHA induces DNA damage, reduces cell replication, and results in above-average apoptosis, or cell death. Furthermore, scientists found damage to cultured skin cells that were incubated in concentrations of DHA that were lower than the concentrations of DHA in spray tanners.

Conclusions

There’s no guarantee that products are safe, nor can we be sure that UVA radiation is as healthful or harmful as various studies suggest. A number of tests must still be performed to verify safety (or harmfulness) of various tanning methods, since there are so many unknowns. In the meantime, while the jury is out, enjoy yourself on a sunny day – in the shade.

Related posts:

lupron liesThey Say Lupron Is Safe medication safetyNo Medication is Perfectly Safe

You might be interested in

Vitamin D3 and Sunscreen

Published on
2100 views

Summer swiftly approaches, evoking idyllic thoughts of sun, surf, and fun. When packing for your getaway, we usually hear, “Don’t forget the sunscreen.” Over the past couple decades the medical community has emphasized the imperative use of sunscreen to prevent us from developing skin cancer. The message clearly resonates with the general population. Consumers embrace the sunscreen market, buying products that tout exponentially increasing “sun protection factor”, or SPF, values. Annual sales of sun protection products soar over the multi-billion-dollar mark. Yet incidences of skin cancer are on the rise.

Are we doing more “harm than good” to our health by using sunscreen?  Ironically, heeding the “shun the sun” mantra has contributed to the global epidemic of vitamin D3 deficiency. Sunlight, ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, provides the most natural source of vitamin D3, a nutrient essential to our well-being: enhancing bone health and protecting against a wide variety of medical conditions including some types of cancer. When UVB light strikes the surface of our unprotected skin, initiation of vitamin D3 production occurs rapidly. Vitamin D experts believe direct sunlight exposure of about 20 minutes can make a healthy daily dose of 10,000 IU of vitamin D3.  Application of sunscreen reduces—or eliminates—vitamin D3 production, denying our body of a long list of health benefits.

A Danish study published in the British Journal of Dermatology examined the association between the thickness of sunscreen layers and vitamin D3 production after UVB exposure. The researchers measured vitamin D3 serum levels in 37 healthy, fair-skinned individuals before and after UVB exposure following an application of SPF 8 sunscreen. Thinner layers of sunscreen correlated directly to higher vitamin D3 serum levels after UVB exposure.  Conversely, the thickest application of sunscreen (2 mg/cm2)—recommended by the World Health Organization—negated vitamin D3 production. The results of the randomized clinical trial concluded that sunscreen use may lead to vitamin D3 deficiency.

Nature intends for us to enjoy the health benefits of some sun exposure, but sun safety is important because excess sunlight, UVA rays, can eventually lead to skin cancer. If we practice moderation by basking in the sun for about 20 minutes to make some vitamin D3,* and then seek shade, additional clothing, or other sun protection, we should get adequate sun without the harmful side effects. Before slathering on that sunscreen, think about the product chemicals that will be absorbed by your body. Do you really need these potential toxins? Only you can make the call.

*People with sarcoidosis, specific granulomatous diseases, and rare cancers may experience hypersensitivity to sunlight exposure.

Copyright ©2012 by Susan Rex Ryan

All rights reserved.

Related posts:

Alzheimers_brainAlzheimer’s May Be a Brain Infection and Amyloid Beta an Antimicrobial vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis pregnancy, thiamine, preeclampsiaThiamine, Pregnancy, and the Energy Connection

You might be interested in

Empower Your Health with Vitamin D3

Published on
3517 views

Sharing an interest in vitamins and hormones, a friend asked me, “If you only could take one daily vitamin supplement, which one would you take?” I replied, “Vitamin D3.” Somewhat astonished, she clarified, “Vitamin D3, not just vitamin D?” I responded, “Not vitamin D or D2, but vitamin D3.  Studies have indicated how beneficial vitamin D3 is to our cellular and bone health, and the prevention of some cancers and many other diseases including multiple sclerosis.  Here we are living in sunny Las Vegas yet many of us are deficient in vitamin D3.” Believe it or not, my initial vitamin D3 blood test level was shockingly low. Since that time, I take at least 5,000 IU vitamin D3 daily and enjoy significantly better health. Today vitamin D3 is arguably America’s “it” supplement.

Most Americans—across generations and geographical locations—unknowingly suffer from deficient levels of vitamin D3 because our bodies lack the natural resources of this essential nutrient.   Burgeoning medical studies indicate that low vitamin D3 levels are associated with the increased risk of cancers including breast, colon, and prostate, as well as a host of other serious medical conditions including heart disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, bone disease, diabetes, infections, and chronic pain.   Symptoms of low vitamin D3 levels tend to be common complaints including muscle weakness, fatigue, and chronic back pain.  The good news is that vitamin D3 deficiency is not only easy to diagnose by evaluating the results of a simple blood test, but can be readily resolved by taking inexpensive oral supplements.

Vitamin D3 is actually a steroid hormone, produced by our bodies when:  a) our skin is exposed to solar ultraviolet B (UVB) rays for varying amounts of time and under certain conditions, or b) we consume vast quantities of cod-liver oil and fatty fish.  However, unless you bask daily in UVB rays under optimal absorption conditions or eat immense amounts of wild-caught fatty fish, you probably have insufficient vitamin D3, increasing your risk of developing serious medical issues.

Simply sunbathing on a regular basis does not guarantee adequate vitamin D3 intake. A multitude of factors affect the degree of UVB sun rays absorbed by our bodies to produce vitamin D3:  geographic location including latitude and altitude; a limited amount of solar UVB light;  time of day and year;  cloud cover;  air quality; age; body weight; skin pigmentation;  sunscreen use; and amount of clothing covering our bodies.

As we age, we produce less of circulating vitamin D3 (calcidiol or 25-hydroxyvitamin D) in our blood and, therefore, make less activated vitamin D3 (calcitriol) in our cells.  Overweight and obese people also have difficulty producing sufficient vitamin D3. As vitamin D3 is fat-soluble, the human body’s fat cells absorb this essential nutrient, decreasing its availability to the tissue and organs. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the vitamin D3 levels of obese persons were 57 percent lower than “lean” people exposed to the same levels of UVB light.

Most American diets are not rich in vitamin D3.   Foods that naturally contain vitamin D3 include salmon, mackerel, sardines, and cod-liver oil (they also contain a large amount of vitamin A, potentially causing vitamin A toxicity).  In addition, a number of foods are fortified with “vitamin D” (either D2 or the preferred D3).   Common vitamin D-fortified foods in the United States include milk, cereal, yogurt, and fruit juices but they contain only small amounts of vitamin D3.   Therefore, fortified foods most likely will not effectively treat a vitamin D3 deficiency because large quantities of these foods would need to be consumed daily.  For example, you would need to drink 10 eight-ounce glasses of vitamin D-fortified milk daily to obtain merely 1,000 IU of vitamin D.  Another concern about fortified food products is the uncertainty of their vitamin D content.  A study confirmed that the majority of the sampled fortified milk contained less than 20 percent of the stated amount on the product label.  Furthermore, sampled quantities of the same brand of milk contained varying amounts of vitamin D on different days.

The most practical and effective treatment of vitamin D3 deficiency is simply taking an inexpensive, oral (a pill or sub-lingual drops) bioidentical vitamin D3, i.e., cholecalciferol, supplement that is readily available without a prescription.  However, carefully read supplement labels before purchasing these products:  accept no substitutes and ensure the dosage is commensurate with increasing your vitamin D3 blood levels!

In the United States vitamin D3 is available only over the counter.  The only prescription for vitamin D in the United States is ergocalciferol or vitamin D2.  Ergocalciferol, a plant product, is not naturally produced in our bodies, and is not a bioidentical replacement for vitamin D3.  Research has indicated vitamin D3 supplementation “increases serum-25-hydroxyvitamin D more efficiently than does vitamin D2.”

Although the U.S. medical community is redefining (and increasing) the optimal levels of vitamin D3, a number of experts have opined that a healthy range of circulating vitamin D3 is at least 50-80 ng/mL.  The most accurate way to determine your vitamin D3 level is to request a simple blood serum test from your healthcare practitioner.  The name of the blood test is 25-hydroxyvitamin D.  Owing to the medical findings over the past decade, routine blood work ordered by a practitioner often includes a vitamin D evaluation.  Nonetheless, it is a good idea to check with your practitioner before your blood is drawn to ensure that the vitamin D blood test is included on the laboratory order form.  Many healthcare plans cover all, or at least partial, costs of the blood test.  (The ICD-9 code is 268.9.)  Home test kits for 25-hydroxyvitamin D also are available on-line from reputable laboratories.

Despite the fact that vitamin D3 is stored in our fat cells and readily available in high dosages, vitamin D3 toxicity is rare.  Monitor—in concert with your healthcare practitioner—your hormone and vitamin levels to ensure that your body’s tissues, organs, and cells enjoy optimal levels of these essential nutrients.  Supplementing with vitamin D3 is an incredibly easy, safe, and inexpensive way to empower your health.

Copyright ©2011 by Susan Rex Ryan All rights reserved.

Related posts:

vitamin and multiple sclerosisVitamin D’s Role in Preventing and Treating Multiple Sclerosis

You might be interested in