Frank C. Garland
Encyclopedia
Frank Caldwell Garland was an American epidemiologist
whose research led to the conclusion that vitamin D deficiency
can be a factor increasing risk for breast cancer
and colon cancer.
, where he majored in history.
In July 1974, Garland and his brother, epidemiologist Cedric F. Garland, attended a lecture at Johns Hopkins University
where maps were presented showing higher rates for certain cancers in counties in the Northern United States, approaching double the rate in some Northern U.S. counties than in the South
. This disparity led them to investigate the relationship and write the 1980 article Do Sunlight and Vitamin D Reduce the Likelihood of Colon Cancer? published in the International Journal of Epidemiology
, in which the brothers put forth the hypothesis that higher rates of colon cancer in Northerners was caused by lower levels of sunshine exposure, which resulted in lower levels of Vitamin D
which then cause lower levels of calcium
in the body.
Garland recalled, "We both immediately noticed a pattern, a pattern that launched both our careers. Our entire academic lives are based on that single moment." While recognizing the risk of melanoma
and other forms of skin cancer
from excessive exposure to the Sun, the Garlands proposed that limited sun exposure would provide enough Vitamin D to help prevent colon cancer, which could also be achieved by taking nutritional supplements.
Garland was awarded a doctorate in 1981 from Johns Hopkins University and pursued a career as an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Diego
, where he was hired in 1986 as professor of family
and preventive medicine
.
His later research connected deficiencies in Vitamin D in residents of Northern cities as connected to diabetes mellitus type 1
and higher rates of breast cancer
and other cancers. In a study of residents of Chicago
conducted over two decades, the Garlands found that the colon cancer incidence in the quintile with the highest Vitamin D intake was half that of those in the lowest quintile. Theirs was the first study to show that higher levels of Vitamin D could cut rates of colon cancer. Another of their studies which analyzed the blood from 25,000 volunteers from Washington County, Maryland
found that those with the highest levels of levels of the Vitamin D metabolite
Calcifediol had a risk of colon cancer that was one-fifth of typical rates.
A resident of San Diego, Garland died at age 60 on August 17, 2010, at UCSD Medical Center
in La Jolla, San Diego, California
, due to cancer of the esophageal junction
.
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
whose research led to the conclusion that vitamin D deficiency
Hypovitaminosis D
Hypovitaminosis D is a deficiency of Vitamin D. It can result from: inadequate nutritional intake of vitamin D coupled with inadequate sunlight exposure , disorders that limit vitamin D absorption, and conditions that impair the conversion of vitamin D into active metabolites including certain...
can be a factor increasing risk for breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
and colon cancer.
Biography
Garland was born on June 20, 1950, in San Diego and earned a bachelor's degree in 1972 from the University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where he majored in history.
In July 1974, Garland and his brother, epidemiologist Cedric F. Garland, attended a lecture at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
where maps were presented showing higher rates for certain cancers in counties in the Northern United States, approaching double the rate in some Northern U.S. counties than in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. This disparity led them to investigate the relationship and write the 1980 article Do Sunlight and Vitamin D Reduce the Likelihood of Colon Cancer? published in the International Journal of Epidemiology
International Journal of Epidemiology
The International Journal of Epidemiology is a bimonthly peer-reviewed medical journal covering research in epidemiology. It is the official journal of the International Epidemiological Association. The journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics....
, in which the brothers put forth the hypothesis that higher rates of colon cancer in Northerners was caused by lower levels of sunshine exposure, which resulted in lower levels of Vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it when sun exposure is adequate ....
which then cause lower levels of calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
in the body.
Garland recalled, "We both immediately noticed a pattern, a pattern that launched both our careers. Our entire academic lives are based on that single moment." While recognizing the risk of melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
and other forms of skin cancer
Skin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
from excessive exposure to the Sun, the Garlands proposed that limited sun exposure would provide enough Vitamin D to help prevent colon cancer, which could also be achieved by taking nutritional supplements.
Garland was awarded a doctorate in 1981 from Johns Hopkins University and pursued a career as an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
, where he was hired in 1986 as professor of family
Family medicine
Family medicine is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages. It is a division of primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, sexes, diseases, and parts of the body...
and preventive medicine
Preventive medicine
Preventive medicine or preventive care refers to measures taken to prevent diseases, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms...
.
His later research connected deficiencies in Vitamin D in residents of Northern cities as connected to diabetes mellitus type 1
Diabetes mellitus type 1
Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose...
and higher rates of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
and other cancers. In a study of residents of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
conducted over two decades, the Garlands found that the colon cancer incidence in the quintile with the highest Vitamin D intake was half that of those in the lowest quintile. Theirs was the first study to show that higher levels of Vitamin D could cut rates of colon cancer. Another of their studies which analyzed the blood from 25,000 volunteers from Washington County, Maryland
Washington County, Maryland
Washington County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering southern Pennsylvania to the north, northern Virginia to the south, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. As of the 2010 Census, its population is 147,430...
found that those with the highest levels of levels of the Vitamin D metabolite
Metabolite
Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism. The term metabolite is usually restricted to small molecules. A primary metabolite is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. Alcohol is an example of a primary metabolite produced in large-scale by industrial...
Calcifediol had a risk of colon cancer that was one-fifth of typical rates.
A resident of San Diego, Garland died at age 60 on August 17, 2010, at UCSD Medical Center
UCSD Medical Center
UC San Diego Health System is an academic health system in San Diego and has been in operation since 1966. It is composed of UC San Diego Medical Center, Thornton Hospital, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Center, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center and Jacobs Medical Center , as well as other primary...
in La Jolla, San Diego, California
La Jolla, San Diego, California
La Jolla is an affluent, hilly seaside resort community, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California within the northern city limits of San Diego. La Jolla had the highest home prices in the nation in 2008 and 2009; the average price of a standardized...
, due to cancer of the esophageal junction
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
.