The fear campaign around sun exposure may be the reason behind the increase in food allergies, according to an Australian study.
It has become common knowledge that skin cancer is one of the leading killers in Australia, and parents go to extreme lengths to ensure their children are protected.
But while tents spring up at a rapid rate across beaches throughout Australia and kids spend more time indoors than playing outside, parents could actually be causing them harm in other ways as they seek to protect them from sun damage.
The report, by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Victoria, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology highlights a link between a lack of sun exposure and the increased rate of food allergies, asthma and eczema.
The rates of these conditions in the north, central and south of Australia in over 7600 children was examined, and has added to the current debates over Vitamin D levels and overall health.
Children in the colder southern states (Victoria and Tasmania) were found to be five times more likely to develop food allergies and eczema than their central (New South Wales) and north (Queensland) counterparts.
“This study has further highlighted the possible link between food allergies, eczema and where you live,” lead researcher Dr Katie Allen said.
“The results of our study provide further motivation for research into possible casual links into UV radiation and vitamin D levels in this disease group”.
While skin cancer is a huge problem for Australians, the study does highlight the damages associated with asthma and allergies.
“Beginning in the 1960s, the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases has increased worldwide,” the report states.
“Currently, the burden of the disease in both the developed and the developing world is significant and increasing rapidly with more than 300 million people affected worldwide, with industrialized countries furthest away from the equator (eg, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom) having the highest prevalence.
“Asthma is one of the leading causes of morbidity in children, with 90% of all cases diagnosed by age 6 years.
“It remains the most common chronic disease of childhood in the world and incurs significant healthcare costs.”
The Cancer Council of Australia updated its recommendations concering sun exposure last year, acknowledging that some sun exposure is necessary in creating healthy Vitamin D levels.
Do you have asthma, food allergies or eczema? Have you ever thought it could be connected to where you live?