1Burning daylight: balancing vitamin D requirements with sensible sun exposure.
Med J Aust. 2011 Apr 4;194(7):345-8.
Stalgis-Bilinski KL, Boyages J, Salisbury EL, Dunstan CR, Henderson SI, Talbot PL.
Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Kellie.Bilinski at bci.org.au.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of balancing sunlight exposure to meet vitamin D requirements with sun protection guidelines.
DESIGN AND SETTING: We used standard erythemal dose and Ultraviolet Index (UVI) data for 1 June 1996 to 30 December 2005 for seven Australian cities to estimate duration of sun exposure required for fair-skinned individuals to synthesise 1000 IU (25 µg) of vitamin D, with 11% and 17% body exposure, for each season and hour of the day. Periods were classified according to whether the UVI was < 3 or ? 3 (when sun protection measures are recommended), and whether required duration of exposure was ? 30 min, 31-60 min, or > 60 min.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Duration of sunlight exposure required to achieve 1000 IU of vitamin D synthesis.
RESULTS: Duration of sunlight exposure required to synthesise 1000 IU of vitamin D varied by time of day, season and city. Although peak UVI periods are typically promoted as between 10 am and 3 pm, UVI was often ? 3 before 10 am or after 3 pm. When the UVI was < 3, there were few opportunities to synthesise 1000 IU of vitamin D within 30 min, with either 11% or 17% body exposure.
CONCLUSION: There is a delicate line between balancing the beneficial effects of sunlight exposure while avoiding its damaging effects. Physiological and geographical factors may reduce vitamin D synthesis, and supplementation may be necessary to achieve adequate vitamin D status for individuals at risk of deficiency.
PMID: 21470084
UVI <3 = GREEN
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