Vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, muscles and overall health. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the best natural source of vitamin D, but it is also the main cause of skin cancer. A balanced approach to sunlight exposure can help you avoid vitamin D deficiency, which can have significant health effects.
UV radiation from the sun is also the main cause of skin cancer. Taking a balanced approach to sun exposure can help make sure you get enough vitamin D while minimising your skin cancer risk. To boost your vitamin D levels when in the sun, expose at least your face, arms and hands, or equivalent area of skin. For vitamin D to be produced, your skin must not be covered with clothing. Prolonged sun exposure will not increase vitamin D levels further, but will increase the risk of skin cancer. Solariums should never be used to boost vitamin D, as they emit dangerous levels of UV that increase the risk of skin cancer. Daily exercise also assists with the body’s production of vitamin D.
Health effects of low vitamin D
Vitamin D is a hormone that controls calcium levels in the blood. It is crucial for bone and muscle development, and for preventing osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency may not result in any obvious symptoms, but without treatment it can have significant health effects and increase a person’s risk of musculoskeletal conditions, such as:
· Bone and muscle pain
· Rickets (soft, weakened bones) in children · Osteopenia (weak, fragile bones) in older adults.
As well as maintaining your vitamin D levels, you also need adequate calcium in your diet to help prevent these conditions. Low vitamin D has also been linked to an increased risk of:
· Multiple sclerosis · Diabetes (type1 and type 2) · Various types of cancers (particularly colon cancer) · Heart disease · Mental health conditions (including schizophrenia) · Worse outcomes in stroke · Altered immunity and other autoimmune diseases. More research is needed to see whether increasing vitamin D levels could help prevent any of these conditions.
Vitamin D and food
There are small amounts of vitamin D in some foods such as fish, eggs and UV-irradiated mushrooms, but it is difficult to obtain enough vitamin D from diet alone. Most people only get five to 10 per cent of their vitamin D from food. Margarine and some types of milk have added vitamin D.
Vitamin D and safe sun exposure
UV levels vary depending on the time of year, and the amount of sun exposure required varies accordingly. Too much sun exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer, so it’s important to find a sensible balance between sun exposure for vitamin D and protection against skin cancer. The ‘daily sun protection times’ indicate when the UV is forecast to be three or above. During these times, people with fair to olive skin should use a combination of sun protection measures (sunscreen, hat, protective clothing, sunglasses and shade). People with naturally very dark skin may not need to wear sunscreen, but should still protect their eyes from the sun, with sunglasses or a hat. People with this skin type may need three to six times as much sun exposure as people with fair to olive skin. Check the SunSmart UV Alert for daily sun protection times for your location, available as a free SunSmart smartphone app, or online (sunsmart.com.au). Low vitamin D
If you are concerned about your vitamin D levels, seek advice from your doctor. A simple blood test can determine your level and assess your risk. If you are at risk of low vitamin D, you will need to have regular medical check-ups to monitor your levels. Your doctor may recommend vitamin D supplements, which should be taken strictly as directed. Once low vitamin D is treated, the aim is to maintain normal vitamin D levels. Source: Better Health Channel (Victorian State Government)
