Sun exposure may protect against non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A case-control study: Abstract LB-228 Those who bask in sunlight increase their risk of developing skin cancer, but sun worshippers may also be protecting their bodies from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Australian researchers said today. By comparing sunlight exposure among 704 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma to 694 healthy individuals, scientists from The University of Sydney determined that people with more lifetime exposure to sunlight reduced their risk of developing Non-Hodgkin lymphoma by as much as 53 percent. The study, led by Bruce Armstrong, A.M. F.A.A., examined the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma through total time spent outdoors: time outdoors on days off work and sun exposure during vacations. The analysis indicated an inverse relationship between sunlight exposure and incidence of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; the more sunlight, the less the risk. The 25 percent of individuals with the most total sunlight exposure had an odds ratio of 0.65. With less sunlight exposure, the risk increased. Each subsequent quartile had progressively more risk of developing the disease. The 25 percent of trial subjects who experienced the least amount of outdoor time under the sun had an odds ratio of 1.0. Outdoor time on days off work was most strongly related to reduced risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The upper quartile of “sun worship” had an odds ratio of 0.47—a whopping 53 percent reduction in risk of the disease. High exposure to the sun during vacations also reduced risk cancer risk by 40 percent, to an odds ratio of 0.60 The researchers noted that the effects were stronger in women than men. And the benefit worked the best for those who were outdoors most as children. “The apparent effect of total hours outdoors was greatest with childhood exposure,” Armstrong said. Armstrong suggested that the effect may be due, in part, to role of sunshine stimulating production of vitamin D in the skin. Incidence of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma ranked among the top ten cancers in the Unites States during 2000. More than 18 people per 100,000 U.S. residents developed the disease that year and there were an estimated 314,000 non-Hodgkin Lymphoma patients in the United States. Worldwide, more than 160,000 people die from the disease each year. AACR, 2004 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.