Is ultraviolet radiation avoidance affecting bone health in melanoma patients?

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has numerous beneficial effects on human health, including stimulating vitamin D and serotonin production and immuno-regulatory activities. Conversely, UV radiation is also classified as a group one carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Purpose: To investigated the effects of UV radiation avoidance in melanoma patients in terms of vitamin D levels but also of bone mineral density and trabecular bone microarchitecture.

Methods: We conducted an observational study investigating the effects of UV radiation avoidance in 31 melanoma patients in terms of vitamin D levels but also of bone mineral density and trabecular bone microarchitecture by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Data were compared with two control groups of healthy subjects, who were chronically exposed or not exposed to UV radiation during their lifetime.

Results: Melanoma patients had on average slightly lower levels of vitamin D, without reaching statistical significance (P = .135). No significant difference was found across the three groups on T-scores of femoral neck (P = .544), of total hip (P = .617) and of lumbar spine P = .155). No significant difference was found on and trabecular bone score across exposure groups (P = .895).

Conclusion: UV radiation avoidance does not seem to significantly impact vitamin D levels nor bone health in melanoma patients. Thus, UV protective behavior is advisable for all melanoma patients.