courtesy: womenshealthmag
One of the emerging pathologies in the past decades is the higher incidence of skin cancers worldwisde due to sun exposure, uv lamp exposure and other factors.
People living in certain southern latitudes, such as Australia, have a higher incidence, since much of their territory is under what is termed as the ozone 'doughnut hole'.
Recent studies into the causes and effects of diet imbalances and changes have also brought to light a few new facts about the link between dietary intake and the incidence of skin cancer.
One of the things that has already been established with a good degree of certainty is that vitamin D deficiency could be a factor in the formation of certain tumors.
Now it seems that Omega 3 supplements, which are advised for a number of other ailments, could play a role in diminishing the risk of skin cancer.
Scientists at the University at Manchester have examined the effects of Omega 3 intake on 79 individuals selected for the study.
The study, which was recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that taking Omega 3 supplements diminished the risk of skin cancer by creating a certain degree of immunity to sunlight.
Sunlight in the human body creates a reaction called immunity suppression, which of course can lead to the creation of tumoral cell, but also leaves one more vulnerable to infection.
The doses assumed by the group was 4 gram doses of Omega 3 daily, which is equivalent to a one and half servings of oily fish per day. Then the group was exposed to an equivalent of 8-15 minute sun exposure by placing each under a sunlamp.
In the group studies, immuno-suppression was shown to be 50% lower than in the subjects who took the placebo, the control group.
However a longer exposure to the sunlamp did change the results, which leads scientist to reassert that even if the supplement were used that the use of sunscreen should not be eliminated.
SKIN CANCER INCIDENCE MAP
courtesy: skincancer.org
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