People who reside at higher latitudes, with lower sunlight exposure and greater prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, are at a greater risk of developing leukaemia, a new study has claimed.
People who reside at higher latitudes, with lower sunlight exposure and greater prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, are at a greater risk of developing leukaemia, a new study has claimed.
Researchers found that persons residing at higher latitudes are at least two times at greater risk of developing leukaemia than equatorial populations. The study, conducted across 172 countries, found that reduced sunlight radiation exposure were associated with higher risks of cancer.
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Leukaemia rates were highest in countries relatively closer to the poles, such as Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Ireland, Canada and US.
“People who live in areas with low solar ultraviolet B exposure tend to have low levels of vitamin D metabolites in their blood. These low levels place them at high risk of certain cancers, including leukaemia,” said Cedric Garland from University of California.