Not such a sunny outlook

WE may dream of a sun-filled Irish summer but the reality is usually bleaker — drizzle and overcast skies. There’s now reliable research which indicates that Ireland’s dull environment might have a greater impact on health than we imagine. This all relates to vitamin D, a “hormone-vitamin” derived mainly from the action of sunlight on our skin over the summer months.

While most of us are aware of the increased risk of cancer with over-exposure to sunshine, less of us realise that the vitamin D we make in response to sunshine may protect against this deadly disease.

This first came to light when US scientists noticed that certain cancers were much more prevalent in areas which got less sunshine. At first, this appeared to be an artefact — after all, people in sunnier climates probably take more exercise and eat more fresh fruit and vegetables than their sun-starved peers. However, it later became clear that the positive benefits of sunshine persisted, even after adjustment for these other factors.