More Sun, Reduced Breast Cancer Risk
Vitamin D might be helping
Article via LabRoots
Besides being a mood booster, spending time in the sun is known to have a number of health benefits. For example, the skin responds to sunlight exposure by producing vitamin D for strong bones. A new study by University at Buffalo researchers suggests that the sun may also help protect against disease. The researchers found that women who spent more time in the sun had a lower risk of breast cancer.
Breast cancer starts when cells (often those lining milk ducts) become malignant and behave abnormally by dividing rapidly and invading surrounding tissues. If caught early, strategies to treat and manage breast cancer — chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation — can improve patient outcomes. Still, in 2020, 2.3 million women worldwide were diagnosed with the disease, and 685,000 lost their lives to the cancer.
A group of researchers led by Jo L. Freudenheim set about investigating how year-round high sun exposure influenced the risk of developing breast cancer. This study responded to some previous reports indicating an association between the two factors.
The team conducted a population-based study of women in metropolitan San Juan, Puerto Rico. In this part of the world, UV radiation levels remain consistently high throughout…
