BU researcher's study on vitamin D funded by tanning industry
A Boston researcher whose article in a major scientific journal advised using tanning beds to treat vitamin D deficiency received money from a foundation run and financed by the tanning-bed industry, according to a story in today's Wall Street Journal. This follows the disclosure two weeks ago that lung-cancer screening research published in two prominent journals was funded by a cigarette manufacturer through a foundation.
Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University disclosed partial funding from the UV Foundation in the article published last year by the New England Journal of Medicine, but the note did not provide further information. The foundation receives money from the Indoor Tanning Association and makers of tanning-bed equipment, the Wall Street Journal said. BU has received $162,014 from the foundation, making it the top recipient.
Dr. Holick told the newspaper that he used the foundation's unrestricted grant, which amounts to about 2 percent of his research budget, for vitamin D research.
A New England Journal spokeswoman said it was aware of the source of funding.
"We looked at the Web site and saw that the information was available and felt the information was publicly available," the spokeswoman told the paper. Holick also said he complied with the New England Journal's disclosure requests.
In the case of tobacco company funding, revealed by a New York Times review of tax records, the New England Journal published a correction, a clarification, and an editorial on full disclosure. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a letter from the author.
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Elizabeth Cooney covers health for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. She
previously reported on business and was an editor at the paper. Earlier in
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Dr. Michael F. Holick has been promoting sun exposure in the midday sun in order to get vitamin D. For years he has written articles for Reader's Digest advising people to get in the sun. In the September, 2006 issue, it stated, "Dr. Holick showed that just a few minutes on a tanning bed three times a week for six weeks lowered blood pressure." People want to believe this dangerous advice and they are back in the sun, saying I knew it was wrong to stay out of the sun! I have had people telling me if I don't get in the sun, I'll get skin cancer and other cancers. I know people who have followed his advice and got cancer and are on chemo and still getting their recommended dose of UVR so their cancer won't come back! Dr. Holick should be arrested for this irresponsible advice, especially when he is being paid by the tanning bed industry! UVR is cumulative and most people have already gotten too much!