SUNLIGHT, SKIN CANCER, SEED OILS, SUNSCREEN
Great podcast on health effects of sun exposure by @SolBrah and @thelightdiet
Some thoughts + speculation below 🧵
Great podcast on health effects of sun exposure by @SolBrah and @thelightdiet
Some thoughts + speculation below 🧵
https://twitter.com/SolBrah/status/1408246356834099204
Sunlight exposure is an essential component of health: Vitamin D, nitric oxide, circadian regulation, etc
Despite this fact, the medical curriculum mostly demonizes sun exposure, focusing on its role as a risk factor for skin cancers...
/2
Despite this fact, the medical curriculum mostly demonizes sun exposure, focusing on its role as a risk factor for skin cancers...
/2
UV radiation is a major risk factor for the development of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20883261/
However that does not tell us much about the specific patients who develop skin cancer.
/3
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20883261/
However that does not tell us much about the specific patients who develop skin cancer.
/3
As with all lifestyle diseases, there is a confluence of individual genetic susceptibility and environmental factors.
'Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger'.
Skin cancer is no exception.
/4
'Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger'.
Skin cancer is no exception.
/4
So we should be asking
What other environmental exposures could have contributed or amplified the risk of skin cancer in a sun-exposed patient?
Dietary factors?
Smoking?
Environmental toxins?
Suncreens themselves?
And in what dose/combination?
It's not clear.
/5
What other environmental exposures could have contributed or amplified the risk of skin cancer in a sun-exposed patient?
Dietary factors?
Smoking?
Environmental toxins?
Suncreens themselves?
And in what dose/combination?
It's not clear.
/5
I suspect seed oil consumption is a (strong) effect modifier of sun exposure on development of skin cancers.
Using highly oxidizable fatty acids diet to build the cell membranes of your keratinocytes then exposing them with UV radiation probably asking too much...
/6
Using highly oxidizable fatty acids diet to build the cell membranes of your keratinocytes then exposing them with UV radiation probably asking too much...
/6
Many people have empirically noted reduction in tendency to sunburn after cutting dietary PUFAs.
I noticed this effect after removing all seed oils and replacing olive oil with animal fat for frying.
/7
I noticed this effect after removing all seed oils and replacing olive oil with animal fat for frying.
/7
This paper provides in vitro evidence for a mechanistic link between polyunsaturated fatty acids, oxidation and pro-inflammatory signalling in keratinocytes.
/8
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
/8
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Ideally, we'd do a long term cohort study looking at skin cancer incidence between groups - one eating only seed oils, and one eating natural animal fats.
Balanced for effect modifiers like smoking, sunscreen use, etc.
Practically very difficult to conduct.
/9
Balanced for effect modifiers like smoking, sunscreen use, etc.
Practically very difficult to conduct.
/9
Could sunscreens be contributing to skin cancer risk?
Oxybenzone, a common sunscreen additive, is a known human endocrine-disruptor and is banned in Hawaii for its role in coral reef bleaching.
/10
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29086472/
Oxybenzone, a common sunscreen additive, is a known human endocrine-disruptor and is banned in Hawaii for its role in coral reef bleaching.
/10
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29086472/
Commercial sunscreens continue to be promoted under the advice
'Long-term studies have found no harmful effects of regular use'
and
'The available evidence suggests that nanoparticles used in sunscreens do not pose a risk to health'
Not lindy.
/12
'Long-term studies have found no harmful effects of regular use'
and
'The available evidence suggests that nanoparticles used in sunscreens do not pose a risk to health'
Not lindy.
/12
It would be sadly ironic if the substances used to 'prevent' skin cancers caused in part by excess consumption of processed seed oils were themselves of disease...
/13
/13
If we follow the money, its clear that no aspect of sun exposure can be monetized by a corporation.
That fact may or may not be relevant to the widespread mainstream advice to minimize sun exposure and wear sunscreens.
/14
That fact may or may not be relevant to the widespread mainstream advice to minimize sun exposure and wear sunscreens.
/14
Given the dismal track record of misleading health advice over the past 50 years (red meat, cholesterol, eggs, animal fats will kill you, etc)
+ absence of both seed oils AND synthetic commercial suncreens in our evolutionary past...
/15
+ absence of both seed oils AND synthetic commercial suncreens in our evolutionary past...
/15
...it is reasonable to be skeptical of the call to minimize sun exposure if you are otherwise truly healthy (not standard American healthy).
/16
/16
That's all very interesting. So what should you do now?
- Listen to the podcast
- Get some healthy sun exposure
- Avoid seed oils
- Avoid commercial sunscreens that contain synthetic organic UV blockers like oxybenzone + methoxydibenzoylmethane
/END
- Listen to the podcast
- Get some healthy sun exposure
- Avoid seed oils
- Avoid commercial sunscreens that contain synthetic organic UV blockers like oxybenzone + methoxydibenzoylmethane
/END
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