Too little sun also harmful, say experts

Too little sun may be just as harmful as too much of it, warn Australian cancer specialists.

Australia is revising its warnings about the risks of sun exposure because of fears about vitamin D deficiency, Britain's Independent reported Tuesday.

Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of a range of diseases from cancer to osteoporosis, the newspaper said.

The Australians issued their warning on the same day Britain's Cancer Research UK launched its annual SunSmart campaign, highlighting the dangers of too much sun.

In a statement, the Cancer Council of Australia said: "A balance is required between avoiding an increase in the risk of skin cancer and achieving enough ultraviolet radiation exposure to achieve adequate vitamin D levels."

Brian Wharton, chairman of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "We do need some sensible use of the sun and we have been swinging too strongly against it."

Courtesy of UPI 3/23/2005