In a recent study, researchers from the University of California show a clear link between deficiency in exposure to sunlight and bladder cancer.

Exposure to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B, triggers the photosynthesis of vitamin D3 in the body, vitamin which was shown in previous studies from this research that in higher levels leads to lower risks of developing colon cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, ovary cancer etc.

The researchers created a graph with bladder cancer incident rates on the vertical axis and latitude on the horizontal one using worldwide data available through a database of cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence for 174 countries called GLOBOCAN.  The graph resulted in a parabolic curve looking like a smile.

“Although nearly half of all bladder cancer cases are due to smoking, and some can be attributed to occupational exposures, we have not had a good explanation for the cause of the remaining 35 to 55 percent of cases,” said Cedric F. Garland, DrPH, professor of Family and Preventive Medicine in the UC San Diego School of Medicine, and member of the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. “This study consistently showed bladder cancer incidence rates were higher in countries at higher latitudes, and lower closer to the equator.”

Further research is needed to study the effect of vitamin D on the risk of bladder cancer. If it’s proven that vitamin D deficiency is indeed a risk for bladder cancer we could use simple measures such as vitamin D3 supplementation to combat it.

Source: UCLA