the sun and vitamin d

[SaggyBalls]

So - we need vitamin d but getting it from the sun can be tricky with the risk of cancer...

...sunblock restricts vit.d and low vit.d increases the risk of skin cancer...

read on and add what you can.

Obese individuals may have lower levels of the circulating form of vitamin D, probably because of reduced bioavailability, and are at higher risk of deficiency. To maintain blood levels of calcium, therapeutic vitamin D doses are sometimes administered (up to 100,000 IU or 2.5 mg daily) to patients who have had their parathyroid glands removed (most commonly renal dialysis patients who have had tertiary hyperparathyroidism, but also to patients with primary hyperparathyroidism) or with hypoparathyroidism.[18] Patients with chronic liver disease or intestinal malabsorption disorders may also require larger doses of vitamin D (up to 40,000 IU or 1 mg (1000 micrograms) daily).

The use of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 8 inhibits more than 95% of vitamin D production in the skin.[10][19] Recent studies showed that, following the successful "Slip-Slop-Slap" health campaign encouraging Australians to cover up when exposed to sunlight to prevent skin cancer, an increased number of Australians and New Zealanders became vitamin D deficient.[12] Ironically, there are indications that vitamin D deficiency may lead to skin cancer.[20] To avoid vitamin D deficiency dermatologists recommend supplementation along with sunscreen use.

The reduced pigmentation of light-skinned individuals tends to allow more sunlight to be absorbed even at higher latitudes, thereby reducing the risk of vitamin D deficiency.[16] However, at higher latitudes (above 30°) during the winter months, the decreased angle of the sun's rays, reduced daylight hours, protective clothing during cold weather, and fewer hours of outside activity, diminish absorption of sunlight and the production of vitamin D. Because melanin acts like a sun-block, prolonging the time required to generate vitamin D, dark-skinned individuals, in particular, may require extra vitamin D to avoid deficiency at higher latitudes.

[phorbesie]

my cousin (naturopath doc) insists that i should take 4x the 'normal' daily dose of vitamin D. not sure why but i trust him on most stuff. not that i actually take them or anything

[Tungsten Gruvsten]

I hear ya - I take 1000mg of the non-tenacious 'D' every day - in the winter months it and st.johns wort (and a sun lamp when it's real bad) keep the SAD at bay...