A Dermatologist's Perspective on Vitamin D - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clin Proc. 2012;87(4):372-380
Veena Vanchinathan, MD, and Henry W. Lim, MD
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone that is crucial for human health and has recently generated controversy regarding its role in human health and disease. In this Special Article, we discuss our dermatologic perspective on vitamin D in a question-and-answer format. We discuss methods of obtaining vitamin D, including cutaneous photobiosynthesis, diet, and supplements and include the recent US Institute of Medicine recommendations.
Other reviewed
topics include the associations among skin pigmentation, climate, photoprotection, and vitamin D levels. We also elaborate on the popular interest in sun exposure as a method of normalizing vitamin D levels in the context of the risks of solar and arti?cial radiation. We also discuss groups at risk for vitamin D inadequacy, the need for testing serum vitamin D levels, and the role of phototherapy in patients with malabsorption conditions and hypervitaminosis D, with a focus on patients with sarcoidosis. Finally, we summarize our recommendations on vitamin D.
Author's view of strength of evidence
PDF is attached at the bottom of this page
See also Vitamin D Life
Dermatologists use sun block, stay indoors, and have low vitamin D (Thai in this study) – Dec 2018
Calcium with vitamin D decreased risk of subsequent skin cancer by 2X – June 2011
Perhaps 28-40 ng of vitamin D would be good for Melanoma patients – Feb 2011
Native American Indians mostly died of skin cancer
- What? You never heard that? Right! Because it didn't happen.
New Zealand doctors are starting to prescribe more sunshine – Aug 2012
A Dermatologist’s Perspective on Vitamin D - Mayo Clinic April 2012
- Evidence is not very strong
Use of tanning beds would reduce associated deaths by 10X – Oct 2011