Use of sunscreens in families living in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: The hazards due to sun exposure are well known. Many recent studies have emphasized the protection against the harmful effects of the sun by the use of sunscreens and, moreover, by staying in the shade and wearing long-sleeved shirts, hats and sunglasses. Switzerland has one of the highest rates of skin cancer induction in Europe and the incidence of melanoma in Switzerland is constantly increasing with an incidence of 10-12/100,000 inhabitants/year. Interestingly, some studies have evoked the possibility that sunscreen use can increase the risk of melanoma by increasing overall sun exposure. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In this context, the aim of our study was to estimate the amount of sun exposure of children, and their parents, living in Switzerland and to give a description of how they protect themselves against sun irradiation. Questionnaires were provided to pediatricians in every state (canton) in Switzerland and were given to families coming for consultation. RESULTS: A total of 328 forms including 1,285 individuals were returned from most of the cantons in Switzerland. The majority of the Swiss families had 2 children under 16 years of age with middle-aged parents (30-45 years) and a central European skin type (light skin of type II-III, brown or blue eyes, and brown to blond hair). An important sun exposure was noted even though the population seems to be conscious of the associated dangers. Sunscreens were the first-line defense against sun exposure with clothing and shielding oneself from the sun not being highly used. Moreover, sunscreens tended to be misused with most people applying them at the beach or swimming pool (instead of 15 min before exposure) and few applications throughout the day. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention should imperatively be emphasized for lower overall sun exposure as sunscreens are primarily used at the beach and not in routine daily exposure. In addition, it is agreed that prevention campaigns would be better directed towards children because up to 80% of detrimental sun exposure occurs during childhood.

A food-based formulation provides lycopene with the same bioavailability to humans as that from tomato paste.

Lycopene from fresh and unprocessed tomatoes is poorly absorbed by humans. Absorption of lycopene is higher from processed foods such as tomato paste and tomato juice heated in oil. The aim of the present study was to develop a food-grade lycopene formulation that is bioavailable in humans. A formulation of lycopene named "lactolycopene" has been designed in which lycopene is entrapped with whey proteins. Healthy subjects (n = 33; 13 men and 20 women) participated and were allocated randomly to one of the three treatment groups. After a 3-wk deprivation of dietary lycopene, subjects ingested 25 mg lycopene/d for 8 wk from lactolycopene, tomato paste (positive control) or a placebo of whey proteins while consuming their self-selected diets. Plasma lycopene concentrations reached a maximum after 2 wk of supplementation in both lycopene-treated groups and then a plateau was maintained until the end of the treatment. Increases in plasma lycopene at wk 8 were not different between supplemented groups (mean +/- SEM): 0.58 +/- 0.13 micromol/L with lactolycopene and 0.47 plus minus 0.07 micromol/L with tomato paste, although they were different from the control (P < 0.001). Similar time-concentration curves of lycopene incorporation were observed in buccal mucosa cells. Although lycopene was present mainly as all-trans isomers (>90%) in both lycopene supplements, plasma lycopene enrichment consisted of 40% as all-trans and 60% as cis isomers. The precursor of lycopene, phytofluene, was better absorbed than lycopene itself. The lactolycopene formulation and tomato paste exhibited similar lycopene bioavailability in plasma and buccal mucosa cells in humans.