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Sun protection and low levels of vitamin D: are people concerned?

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Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Recent reports on the association between low serum vitamin D and increased risk of cancer raised concerns about possible adverse effects of primary prevention strategies for skin cancer. To evaluate if these reports may influence peoples’ sun protective behavior, knowledge, and attitudes to the impact of sun protection on vitamin D.

Methods

Within a population-based survey in Queensland, Australia (5,611 participants, mean age 50.7 years (range 20–75); 48.2% men), agreement with the statement that sun protection may result in not having enough vitamin D as well as factors associated with agreement were assessed.

Results

Overall, 837 (15.0%) participants agreed that sun protection may result in not having enough vitamin D, 2,163 (38.7%) neither agreed nor disagreed, and 2,591 (46.3%) disagreed with this statement. Factors associated with agreement included older age, darker skin color, and attempt to develop a suntan within the past year.

Conclusion

These results suggest that future sun protection campaigns may need to address the issue of vitamin D and present ways to achieve sufficient vitamin D levels without increasing sun exposure at least in countries with high UV radiation throughout the year.

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Abbreviations

UV:

Ultraviolet radiation

SAQ:

Self-administered questionnaire

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Rd, Kelvin Grove, 4059, Australia

    Monika Janda & Michael Kimlin

  2. Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, QLD, Australia

    David Whiteman & Rachel Neale

  3. Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, Queensland Cancer Fund, Spring Hill, QLD, Australia

    Joanne Aitken

Authors
  1. Monika Janda
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  2. Michael Kimlin
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  3. David Whiteman
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  4. Joanne Aitken
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  5. Rachel Neale
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monika Janda.

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Janda, M., Kimlin, M., Whiteman, D. et al. Sun protection and low levels of vitamin D: are people concerned?. Cancer Causes Control 18, 1015–1019 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9042-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9042-4

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