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minerals, but when it comes to vitamin D there’s a lot of discussion over how much a person needs and more importantly how to generate it.
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Results of a recent study have discovered that 59% of subjects had too little vitamin D in their body, leading experts to claim that responsible sunbed use could provide the answer.
Vitamin D deficiency is noted to lead to a number of health concerns.
Published in the March 2010 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the study showed that approaching a quarter of study subjects had experienced serious deficiencies (less than 20 ng/ml), making them susceptible to increased body fat and decreased muscle strength.
Dr. Richard Kremer, co-director of the Musculoskeletal Axis of the Research Institute of the MUHC and also principle investigator, commented: “Vitamin D insufficiency is a risk factor for other diseases. Because it is linked to increased body fat, it may affect many different parts of the body. Abnormal levels of vitamin D are associated with a whole spectrum of diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders.”
But this isn’t the only research to substantiate the need to top up waning vitamin D levels. In fact, March 2010 also saw Danish researchers highlighting the dangers of low vitamin D levels in relation to the immune system.
“The researchers found that immune systems’ killer cells, known as T cells, rely on vitamin D to become active and remain dormant and unaware of the possibility of threat from an infection or pathogen if vitamin D is lacking in the blood,” reported news agency Reuters.
The news agency quoted Dr. Carsten Geisler of Copenhagen University’s department of international health, immunology and microbiology, who led the study: “When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signalling device or ‘antenna’ known as a vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for vitamin
e all know that to live a healthy life we need to get the right balance of vitamins and
D. This means the T cell must have vitamin D or activation of the cell will cease. If the T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the blood, they won’t even begin to mobilise.”
“Most vitamin D is made by the body as a natural by-product of the skin’s exposure to sunlight. It can also be found in fish liver oil, eggs and fatty fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel, or taken as a supplement,” Reuters added, acknowledging what ‘Sunshine Vitamin’ advocates already understand, “Almost half of the world’s population has lower than optimal levels of vitamin D and scientists say the problem is getting worse as people spend more time indoors.”
A similar study led by Professor Johan Moan, from the University of Oslo, has been published in the specialist magazine Photochemistry and Photobiology, and corroborated that in Winter months vitamin D levels fall significantly, as sunlight contains too little ultra violet light to stimulate vitamin D production in human skin.
At the end of the report, conclusions were drawn as to the best way of manufacturing vitamin D during the Winter months: “If you use sunbeds during this time, this interruption can be avoided and the vitamin D level can be kept at a balanced level,” said Professor Moan.
How low can you go?
Back in November 2008, a group of 18 vitamin D researchers at the University of California, led by Anthony Norman Ph.D, said that the recommended daily intake of the vitamin is inadequate, and asked the [United States] government to re-examine its recommended daily amount of between 200 - 600 international units (IU) daily for adults, to 2,000 IU daily.
The researchers at UC were not alone. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Paediatrics also asked for the [US] government to raise its benchmark, and the Canadian Cancer Society changed its recommendations to 1,000 IU daily for adults.
Whilst acknowledging that this change was necessary, Joe Levy, Vice President of the International Smart Tan Network based in the US, stated the vitamin D community
By Claire Matthewman
believed it wasn’t enough to measure intake alone. “A person’s vitamin D blood level is key,” he said. “The vitamin D community is supporting 40-60 ng/ml as the target level, and very few people know their vitamin D blood levels today. But your actual blood level reading is much more important than the daily RDA of vitamin D.”
However, not all of the medical community in the United States has reviewed its recommendations. In the same year, the American Academy of Dermatology issued a statement recommending that the public rely only on supplements and nutritional sources to get their vitamin D and ‘not from unprotected exposure to ultraviolet light radiation from the sun or indoor tanning devices.’
So what now?
Gary Lipman, Chairman of The Sunbed Association which represents tanning operations in the UK and Ireland, told IB: “A few minutes, two to three times a week on a sunbed has long been known and recommended by international experts as a viable way of securing and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels.
“Unfortunately, in recent years sunbeds have been an undeserved victim of negative and persistent anti-tanning campaigns. Modern sunbeds can offer sensors to measure UV output according to an individual’s skin type, creating the right balance and session length, to avoid any chance of burning. And, of course, it’s burning whether on a sunbed or in the sun that should be avoided. Moderate UV exposure is essential to good health.”
“The public is completely confused with the conflicting advice given on UV exposure and it is time that perspective and common sense were factored into the message, “ he adds.
“Much of what has been said about sunbeds is pure spin to create sensationalist headlines and reach targets. Changing the perception about sunbed use will be difficult and a hard pill for many to swallow but the overwhelming evidence suggests that used responsibly with resultant vitamin D benefits, sunbeds could have a significant role to play in saving thousands of lives as well as billions of pounds annually.”
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