Seniors get about 4X less vitamin D from the sun

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Response by Perplexity AI - Feb 2024

Includes references, graphics, videos, etc.

Seniors synthesize less vitamin D from sun exposure due to several physiological and lifestyle factors. The primary reasons include:

1. Decreased Skin Efficiency: As people age, the levels of the substance in the skin (7-dehydrocholesterol) that UVB light converts into the vitamin D precursor decrease. This results in a 50% reduction in the formation of previtamin D3 in older individuals compared to younger ones 2 3
2. Renal Function Decline: Aging affects the formation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), the active form of vitamin D. There is a 50% reduction in the production of 1,25(OH)2D due to an age-related decline in renal function. Although serum 1,25(OH)2D levels are maintained in part by secondary hyperparathyroidism, the overall capacity to produce the active form of vitamin D diminishes with age 2
3. Lifestyle Factors: Older adults may engage in less outdoor physical activity, reducing their exposure to sunlight, which is necessary for the skin to produce vitamin D 4
4. Additionally, seniors might have dietary patterns that do not provide sufficient vitamin D 2
5. Obesity: Fat tissue absorbs vitamin D, and studies have shown that being obese is correlated with low vitamin D levels. Since the prevalence of obesity can increase with age, this can further contribute to lower vitamin D synthesis in seniors 3
6. Vitamin D Absorption and Metabolism: Conditions that affect the gut and digestion, such as celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, and cystic fibrosis, can reduce vitamin D absorption. Moreover, some types of liver disease can reduce the absorption of vitamin D because the liver isn't producing normal amounts of bile, or essential steps in vitamin D metabolism can't occur or occur incompletely 3
7. Sunscreen and Clothing: While sunscreen use and clothing are important for preventing skin cancer, they can also reduce the skin's ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight. Although the impact of sunscreen on vitamin D levels might not be significant due to irregular use, it's a factor worth considering, especially for seniors who might be more cautious about sun exposure 3

• In summary, seniors synthesize less vitamin D from sun exposure due to a combination of physiological changes, such as decreased skin efficiency and renal function decline, as well as lifestyle factors like reduced outdoor activity and dietary intake. These challenges highlight the importance of monitoring vitamin D levels in the elderly and considering supplementation or dietary adjustments as necessary.

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Note: Probably little reduced response in seniors with Topical Vitamin D

Topical Vitamin D category contains;
Topical is one of the many ways of increasing the vitamin D in your body
Topical is 2X to 50X more expensive than oral form
Topical is great for those who not want to swallow pillls nor fortifiy their food/drink with Vitamin D
Topical is one of the many gut-friendly forms of vitamin D (good bioavailability for those with poor guts
Topical is especially good form to apply directly to skin problems:
    - i.e. Psoriasis  Warts  Burns  Acne  Eczema  Wounds  (lasts about a day)
    The skin, like most tissues of the body, can fully-activate Vitamin D locally - no liver nor kidney needed.
Provides perhaps 100X higher concentration of Vitamin D to that portion than if same dose were taken orally
There were > 700 topical Vitamin D products on Amazon Aug, 2019
     Creams. oils, patches, nanoemulsions, etc.
Suspect that topical Vitamin D is best absorbed where the skin gets Vitamin D naturally
- - - face and hands vs the back or the inside of arms
Nanoemulsions can also be applied topically under the tongue and inhaled

And, some topical Vitamin D does not use the Kidneys
Getting Vitamin D into your body has a chart:

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13 reasons why many seniors need more vitamin D (both dose and level) - July 2023 has:

1. Senior skin produces 4X less Vitamin D for the same sun intensity
2. Seniors have fewer vitamin D receptor genes as they age
   Receptors are needed to get Vitamin D in blood actually into the cells
3. Many other Vitamin D genes decrease with age
4. Since many gene activations are not detected by a blood test,
   more Vitamin D is often needed, especially by seniors
5. Seniors are indoors more than when they were younger
   not as agile, weaker muscles; frail, no longer enjoy hot temperatures
6. Seniors wear more clothing outdoors than when younger
   Seniors also are told to fear skin cancer & wrinkles
7. Seniors often take various drugs which end up reducing vitamin D
   Some reductions are not detected by a vitamin D test of the blood
   statins, chemotherapy, anti-depressants, blood pressure, beta-blockers, etc
8. Seniors often have one or more diseases that consume vitamin D
   osteoporosis, diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, ...
9. Seniors generally put on weight as they age - and a heavier body requires more vitamin D
10. Seniors often (40%) have fatty livers – which do not process vitamin D as well
11. Reduced stomach acid means less Magnesium is available to get vitamin D into the cells
12. Vitamin D is not as bioavailable in senior intestines
13. Seniors with poorly functioning kidneys do not process vitamin D as well
       Seniors category has 428 items

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Vitamin D Life - 4 studies in both categories Seniors and Noontime Sun

This list is automatically updated

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Vitamin D Life - 5 studies in both categories Seniors and UV

This list is automatically updated