Sun exposure, skin lesions and vitamin D production: evaluation in a population of fishermen

Abstract

Background Exposure to UVR provides benefits related to vitamin D synthesis, but also causes harms, since UVB is considered a complete carcinogen. There is no definition of the level of sun exposure and the proportion of exposed body required for proper synthesis of vitamin D in the skin without causing it damage. Objectives This study aims to analyze the sun exposure index, vitamin D levels and clinical changes in the skin caused by constant sun exposure in the fishermen population. Methods It is a cross-sectional, observational and analytical study. The sample consisted of fishermen and was calculated in 174 individuals. The questionnaire was applied, the dermatological examination was carried out and the examinations of calcidiol, parathyroid hormone, calcium and phosphorus were requested. Data were expressed as percentages. The comparative analysis was done through the Chi-square test, and the correlations were established through the Pearson's linear coefficient. Results: We observed that there was vitamin D deficiency in a small part of the cases (11.46%), and the frequency of diagnosis of skin cancer was 2.7% of the cases surveyed. Study Limitations The difficulty in categorizing the sun exposure index. Conclusion The fact that fishermen expose themselves to the sun chronically and have been exposed to the sun for more than 15 years, between 21 and 28 hours a week, and without photoprotection, were indicative factors for protection against vitamin D deficiency. Chronic exposure to sun and high vitamin levels D may be indicative of protection of this population against skin cancer.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D as a biomarker of vitamin D status in plaque psoriasis and other dermatological diseases: a cross-sectional study

“…A Brazilian study conducted by Coutinho et al 31 in 174 fishermen analyzed the relationship between sun exposure index, vitamin D levels, and clinical changes in the skin caused by the sun. Vitamin D deficiency was verified in only 11.46% of the patients due to chronic sun exposure in Brazil's northeast region, with high levels of UVI throughout the year.…”

Bilateral lower limb squamous cell carcinoma a rare case

“…5 Skin cancers as well as precancerous lesions have been shown to have an increased incidence in commercial fishermen. 4 Fishermen in India are exposed to greater amount of UV radiation, chemicals in the workplace, various cutaneous pathogens that might lead to chronic irritation of the skin.…”

Serum ferritin and vitamin D evaluation in response to high altitude comparing Italians trekkers vs Nepalese porters

“…In respect to other results, where a Vit D reduction was found in alpinists in association with increased inflammation (Kasprzak et al, 2015; Śliwicka et al, 2017), we suggest that the difference may lie on the more prolonged duration (19 days of exposure in the current study, 2 weeks in the other studies), on the absence of acute inflammation in our participants, on the lower baseline values of our participants (on average, 28.4 vs 34.02 ng/mL). The low intake of vit D in Nepalese porters did not result in Vit D deficiency measured by the serum concentration, perhaps as a result of prolonged sun exposure during the trek, which protected against Vit D deficiency (Coutinho, Santos, da Costa, & Vanderlei, 2019).…”