Russian ecological study finds increase in cancer rates at higher latitudes

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Dr William Grant

A paper published in March 2011 by Michael F. Borisenkov reported that a number of cancer rates increase significantly with increasing latitude in Russia. The cancers that increase in both incidence and mortality are esophageal, kidney, pancreatic, stomach cancer and melanoma. The cancers that increase just in incidence are bladder, colon, ovarian and rectal cancer. The cancers that increase just in mortality are acute myeloid leukemia, immunoproliferative diseases and multiple myeloma.

Seasonality studies provide better incite into melatonin-cancer hypothesis than latitudinal studies.

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References

Borisenkov MF. Latitude of residence and position in time zone are predictors of cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and life expectancy at birth. Chronobiol Int. 2011 Mar;28(2):155-62.

Borisenkov MF, Bazhenov SM. [Seasonal patterns of breast tumor growth in Far North residents]. Vopr Onkol. 2005;51(6):708-11. Russian.

Oh EY, Ansell C, Nawaz H, Yang CH, Wood PA, Hrushesky WJ. Global breast cancer seasonality. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Aug;123(1):233-43.

About Dr William Grant

Dr. William Grant is an epidemiologist and founder of the nonprofit organization Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center (SUNARC). He has written over 140 peer-reviewed articles and editorials on vitamin D and health. Dr. Grant is the Science Director of the Vitamin D Council and also serves on their Board. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from UC Berkeley.
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4 Responses to Russian ecological study finds increase in cancer rates at higher latitudes

  1. Brant Cebulla said on September 21, 2011 at 11:12 am

    See our cancer summaries written by Dr. William Grant in our Health Conditions section: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/cancer/

  2. JBG said on September 21, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    “Melatonin levels rise when blue light levels are higher…”
    My understanding was(is) that blue light suppresses melatonin production…

  3. Dr William Grant said on September 21, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    My mistake:
    The statement: Melatonin levels rise when blue light levels are higher, and melatonin helps induce sleep. is incorrect.

    The correct statement is: Melatonin levels rise when blue light levels are lower, and melatonin helps induce sleep.

  4. Brant Cebulla said on September 21, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    Post edited September 21, 2011 at 3:03* to make the aforementioned correction.

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