Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention, Washington County, MD, USA.
Public Health Rep. 2011 Jul-Aug;126(4):533-9. doi: 10.1177/003335491112600409.
The public has long been encouraged to engage in sun-safe practices to minimize exposure to sunlight, the major cause of nonmelanoma skin cancer. More recently, some have advocated unprotected sun exposure to increase cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D as a way to promote health. We assessed the net result of these conflicting messages.
In a cross-sectional survey in 2007, questionnaires were mailed to participants of an ongoing cohort study in Washington County, Maryland. The study population consisted of 8,027 adults (55% response rate).
Thirty percent of respondents were aware that unprotected sun exposure increased endogenous vitamin D levels. Among those who were aware of this benefit, 42% reported going out into the sun to increase vitamin D levels. Sun-seeking to increase vitamin D production did not significantly differ according to self-reported personal history of skin cancer, but was significantly higher among women, older age groups, those with less education, and vitamin D supplement users.
A substantial proportion of respondents reported sun-seeking behavior expressly to increase endogenous vitamin D levels. The message about sun exposure and vitamin D is reaching the general public; however, this finding poses challenges to skin cancer prevention efforts.
长期以来，公众一直被鼓励采取防晒措施，以尽量减少阳光暴露，这是导致非黑素瘤皮肤癌的主要原因。最近，一些人提倡不采取保护措施的阳光暴露，以增加皮肤中维生素 D 的合成，从而促进健康。我们评估了这些相互矛盾的信息的净结果。
在 2007 年的一项横断面调查中，向马里兰州华盛顿县正在进行的队列研究的参与者邮寄了问卷。研究人群由 8027 名成年人组成（回应率为 55%）。
30%的受访者知道无保护的阳光暴露会增加内源性维生素 D 水平。在那些意识到这一好处的人中，42%的人报告说为了增加维生素 D 水平而晒太阳。为了增加维生素 D 的产生而晒太阳的行为与自我报告的皮肤癌个人史没有显著差异，但在女性、年龄较大的人群、受教育程度较低的人群和维生素 D 补充剂使用者中明显更高。
相当一部分受访者报告说，他们特意晒太阳是为了增加内源性维生素 D 水平。关于阳光暴露和维生素 D 的信息已经传达给了公众；然而，这一发现给皮肤癌预防工作带来了挑战。
