Vitamin D
Vitamin D & Sunshine Issues in the News
TweetInterested in knowing more about vitamin D? A great place to start is here, at mercola.com.
In 2009, over 3000 peer-reviewed academic articles were published about the positive connection between vitamin D and human health. "Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more." Dr. John J. Cannell, www.vitamindcouncil.org. Here we update you regularly on news items informing us on these issues.
- Sun CAN protect you against skin cancer: Professor Angus Dalgleish 24 May 2011 dailymail.co.uk
- American Cancer Society dead wrong about the sun 17 May 2011 mercola.com
- Enjoy the Sun: It's Not your Enemy! 16 May 2011 niagara-gazette.com
- The inside track: Sunscreen overuse 26 April 2011 guardian.co.uk
- Winter may be linked to postpartum depression 21 April 2011 vancouversun.com
- Britons SHOULD go out in the midday sun 17 Dec 2010 dailymail.co.uk
- Pink news: Vitamin D helps prevent breast cancer 9 Oct 2010 foodconsumer.org
- Avoiding Sun Leads to Vitamin D Deficiency 27 Sep 2010 stuff.co.nz
- Low vitamin D linked to schizophrenia 7 Sep 2010 abc.net.au
- Study further strengthens link between vitamin D and MS 26 Aug 2010 barchester.com
- Sunshine Remedy Vitamin D Keeps Diseases at Bay 24 Aug 2010 dailymail.co.uk
- Leading Cancer Charity Says Midday Sun Good for Health 21 Jul 2010 topnews.net.nz
- Sunbathing boosts men's testosterone (thanks to vitamin D) 14 Jul 2010 naturalnews.com
- Vitamin D may lower your risk of Alzheimers 12 Jul 2010 3news.co.nz
- Pregnant women advised to take vitamin D regularly
7 Jul 2010 topnews.net.nz 6 Jul 2010 foodconsumer.org
- Vitamin D Fears Lead to Sun Warnings Review

- Vitamin D Deficiency and Gwyneth Paltrow 3 Jul 2010 news-fire.com
- Moderate exposure to UVB light key to solving vitamin D deficiency: MD 12 May 2010
- Tanning Beds: What do the numbers really mean? 7 May 2010 healthjournalism.org
- Vitamin D Kills Cancer Cells 22 Feb 2010 abcnews.com
- Let's Put Cancerous Myths to Bed 28 Apr 2010 spiked-online.com
- Vitamin D Helps Reduce Fall Injuries for Elderly People 21 Jan 2010 topnews.net
- Heart Failure linked to Gene Variant Affecting Vitamin D Activation 02 Dec 09 sciencedaily.com
- Important New Vitamin D research papers 01 Dec 09 www.foodconsumer.org
- Study sheds light on vitamin D deficiency 23 Oct 09 North Shore Times
- Vitamin D may help reduce type 2 diabetes risk 19 Oct 09 foodconsumer.org
Planning on getting your vitamin D outside? Remember this rule-of-thumb: your shadow must be shorter than you to synthesise vitamin D effectively.
Click here to read more about vitamin D on our Tanning Info page
Over-exposure to UVR is a correlated risk factor for melanoma skin cancer. Everyone should be aware of the amount of sun exposure they receive and ensure their skin never burns. Those at higher risk include skin type 1 persons, those with a family history of the disease and a genetic inability to tan.
Remember sunbed tanning should not be attempted by persons with skin type 1. Currently, expert opinion is divided on necessary vitamin D levels for health. If you are unsure about yours, consult your doctor.
Do not attempt to tan indoors or outside if you are a skin type 1.
GBT notes the connections between high levels of vitamin D and low incidence of diseases- while widely reported, are not yet officially sanctioned. Our intention is not to promote the idea that tanning reduces the incidence of disease. We advise all people that sensible sun exposure practices must be employed to reduce your risks of over-exposure to UV light, and this opinion piece should not be viewed as a claim that sunbed use offers health benefits.

