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Embrace the Sun recommends non-burning sun exposure, citing research on sun exposure, vitamin D, and disease risk.

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A recent paper reported that while black and white women in the U.S. now have very similar breast cancer incidence rates, blacks have 41% higher breast cancer mortality rates. Based on many journal papers, we suggest that the primary reason is that blacks have much lower vitamin D status than whites.

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A multicountry ecological study based on cancer incidence rates for 157 countries in 2008 found that animal product consumption was as important a risk factor for cancer as smoking. Alcohol consumption and sweeteners were less important.

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The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease for those over the age of 65 years in Japan rose from 1% in 1985 to 7% in 2007. The increases lagged the change to a more Western diet high in animal products such as meat and milk, by 15-25 years.

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A newly published study found prevalence of autism among U.S. children is inversely correlated with solar UVB doses, the primary source of vitamin D. Maternal vitamin D deficiency or vitamin D deficiency in early life could explain this finding.

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A paper recently published in Dermato-Endocrinology indicates that raising vitamin D concentrations among hospital patients has the potential to greatly reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections.

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A paper just published in Dermato-Endocrinology suggests that vitamin D deficiency may account for unexplained disparities in cancer survival rates between African and White Americans. The factors usually considered are socioeconomic status, stage at diagnosis, and treatment. The unexplained portion is generally between zero and 30%, with an average near 15%. This amount is easily explained by differences in vitamin D for African-Americans compared to white-Americans for 13 types of cancer.

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Evidence is presented that erectile dysfunction (ED) related to vascular factors is also related to vitamin D deficiency. Those who develop vascular-related ED have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Taking vitamin D after diagnosis of vascular-related ED may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

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Large geographical variations in dental health and tooth loss among U.S. adolescents and young adults related so solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) light have been reported since the mid-1800s. The mechanism now identified is induction of cathelicidin, which attacks oral bacteria linked to dental caries, from vitamin D produced by solar UVB light.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart suffered from many infectious illnesses from 1762 to 1791, the year of his death at 35 years of age. Most of these illnesses occurred between mid-October and May. Mozart died on December 5, two-to-three months into the 6-month vitamin D winter at that latitude.

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A study published this week in Anticancer Research confirms that solar UVB irradiance is associated with reduced risk of 16 sites of cancer, apparently through production of vitamin D. These cancers include 6 sites of gastrointestinal cancers, 3 cancers of female sites, 3 urogenital cancers, 2 types of lymphomas, and 2 upper aerodigestive tract cancers.

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A review of published case-control and cohort studies on the risk reduction for colon and rectal cancer afforded by vitamin D finds that dietary sources are insufficient, but that total vitamin D from diet, solar ultraviolet B, and supplements can be sufficient.

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A study published in 2003 linked the increased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Sweden to increased intentional tanning. A closer look at the SCC data as well as data for smoking deaths in Sweden shows that the increase in SCC was associated with smoking, not tanning.

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A new multi-country study strengthens the link between animal products, such as meat and dairy products, as risk factors for prostate cancer, and vegetable products, especially onions, but also cereals/grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables as risk reduction factors.

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Insufficient UV-B radiation exposure in northern states will lead to approximately 85,000 additional cases and approximately 30,000 additional deaths compared to what would occur if the entire country could obtain the same UV-B exposure as is found in the southern part of the U.S.

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A unique study of breast cancer mortality rates and dietary factors for 35 countries presents strong evidence that diet is the most important risk factor for breast cancer.