Holistic Health News: Sunlight-Friend or Foe? The Vitamin D and Sunscreen Debate Part 1

by mrsexsmith

Article by Dr. Kristina Lewis, ND

Vitamin D is getting a lot of attention from the media lately as a hot, new topic in medical circles. Many people now have vitamin D levels tested and discover they are low in this essential nutrient. But what exactly is Vitamin D and why should you care about your Vitamin D levels? How does sunscreen use contribute to being low in this important vitamin, and what can you do about it?

What is Vitamin D?

I remember learning in elementary school about photosynthesis, how plants capture the light of the sun and turn it into energy. But what my teacher didn't tell me is that humans do something similar when creating Vitamin D! Vitamin D is actually a hormone produced from exposure to sunlight. UV light from the sun starts a chemical reaction in the skin to produce a precursor to Vitamin D which, with the help of the liver and kidneys, becomes active Vitamin D that our bodies can use.

Why is Vitamin D Important?

Vitamin D was originally discovered in 1918 as a necessary nutrient to prevent rickets. In more modern times, it has become famous primarily for helping your body absorb calcium to keep bones strong.

However, in the past few years, there has been an explosion of research linking Vitamin D deficiency to a wide range of medical conditions ranging from osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, many different types of cancer, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, PCOS, influenza, prostate health, infertility, high blood pressure, diabetes, seasonal affective disorder, migraines, and more.

Natural Health Concerns Regarding Vitamin D

Widespread Deficiency of Vitamin D

A study in May 2009 reported that more than one third of mothers and more than half of their infants are Vitamin D-deficient at the time of birth (9). Many other studies as well as clinical experiences are showing this deficiency is widespread in many people and populations globally (10). Why are so many people in so many different countries low in this horm! one that our bodies makes on its own?

Natural Sources of Vitamin D

You can get Vitamin D from some fortified foods, as well as from many types of fish, some mushrooms, and egg yolk, but by far the best way to get enough Vitamin D is through sun exposure on our skin.

Recommendations vary from 15-30 minutes a day, with at least 30% of your skin surface exposed (some recommendations suggest your face and arms; other suggest you also need your legs exposed) in order to synthesize enough for optimal health. Depending on your latitude, altitude, pollution levels, cloud cover, and skin color, you may need more sun exposure to generate the amount necessary for optimal health.

Sunscreen may be Blocking the Production of Vitamin D

Many holistic health and conventional health care practitioners are concerned that the push to ALWAYS wear sunscreen has helped contribute to many people having suboptimal Vitamin D levels.

Essentially the same sunscreen you are wearing to prevent skin cancer also blocks your body's ability to make Vitamin D! Our bodies require UV light to make Vitamin D, and sunscreens block out UV light. Even the all natural, environmentally friendly sunscreens block UV light! A sunscreen with SPF of 8 blocks your ability to synthesize Vitamin D by 92.5%, and increasing to SPF 15 blocks nearly 99% of your ability to make Vitamin D (1,2,3,4)! To learn more about natural health solutions to increase Vitamin D levels recommended by holistic doctors and naturopathic physicians look for the article "Holistic Health News: Sunlight-Friend or Foe? The Vitamin D and Sunscreen Debate Part 2."

Holistic Health Article Sources

1. Holick MF.Vitamin D deficiency.N Engl J Med.2007;357:266-281.

2. Matsuoka LY, Wortsman J, Hanifan N, et al.Chronic sunscreen use decreases circulating concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.Arch Dermatol.1988;124:1802-1804.

3. Matsuoka LY, Ide L, Wortsmen J, et al.Sunscreen suppress cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis.J Cli! n Endocr inol Metab.1987;64:1165-1168.

4. Robinson JK.Sun exposure, sun protection, and Vitamin D. JAMA.2005;294(12):1541-1545.

5. Rebecca Wike Malone, Cathy Kessenich. Vitamin D Deficiency: Implications Across the Lifespan. Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 08/25/2008)

6. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Giovannuci E, Willett WC, et al.Estimation of optimal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for multiple health outcomes.Am J Clin Nutr.2006;84:18-28.

7. Glerup H, Mikkelson K, Poulsen L, et al.Commonly recommended daily intake of vitamin D is not sufficient if sunlight exposure is limited.J Intern Med.2000;247:260-268.

8. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp#h2

9. Stein, Jill. Vitamin D Deficiency Is Common in Mothers and Newborns. Reuters Health Information, May 2009. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/702309

10. Mithal A, Wahl DA, Bonjour JP, Burckhardt P, Dawson-Hughes B, Eisman JA, El-Hajj Fuleihan G, Josse RG, Lips P, Morales-Torres J; on behalf of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors (CSA) Nutrition Working Group. Global vitamin D status and determinants of hypovitaminosis D. Osteoporos Int. Jun 19, 2009.

About the Author

Lewis Family Natural Health is a husband and wife team of naturopathic physicians in Asheville, North Carolina. Drs. Kristina and Eric Lewis specialize in holistic women's health, homeopathy, herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, all natural weight loss and healthy lifestyle coaching. For more information visit http://www.LewisNaturalStore.com.