Vitamin D Levels, Dietary Intake, and Photoprotective Behaviors Among Patients With Skin Cancer

Photoprotection against ultraviolet light is an important part of our armamentarium against actinically derived skin cancers However, there has been concern that adherence to photoprotection may lead to low vitamin D status leading to negative effects on patients health In this work we discuss previous findings in this area which do not give a clear picture as to the relationship between vitamin D levels and photoprotection measures as well as research performed by the authors who did not detect a relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and adherence to photoprotection measures in subjects with skin cancer, as assessed by the use of sunscreen clothing, hats sunglasses, and umbrellas/shade through the Sun Protection Habits Index Subjects who took vitamin D oral supple mentation had greater serum 25(OH)D levels than those who did not, whereas dietary intake through foods did not predict 25(OH)D levels in the authors study However there was a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in the authors' study population, highlighting the importance of assessing vitamin D status and recommending oral vitamin D supplementation when indicated Semin Cutan Med Surg 29 185 189 Published by Elsevier Inc