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The Vitamin D Debate: Translating Controlled Experiments into Reality for Human Sun Exposure Times
Author(s) -
Webb Ann R.,
Kift Richard,
Berry Jacqueline L.,
Rhodes Lesley E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2011.00898.x
Subject(s) - sunlight , sun exposure , ultraviolet radiation , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin , human health , toxicology , population , radiation , ultraviolet , environmental science , environmental health , physiology , medicine , chemistry , biology , physics , optics , dermatology , radiochemistry
Abstract Exposure to sunlight, specifically the ultraviolet radiation, has both positive and negative health effects. Maximizing the benefits (vitamin D synthesis) while minimizing the damage is a multifaceted problem in which many of the elements are poorly quantified. Here we show how rigorously conducted large sample size laboratory studies of the effect of ultraviolet radiation dose on vitamin D status can be applied to real‐life situations. This was achieved by modeling the radiation incident on different surfaces for different solar locations, and equating with the controlled exposures in the laboratory studies. Results from both model and experimental data show that relatively short exposures of a modest amount of unprotected skin to summer sunlight in northern climes, on a regular basis during lunchtime hours, increases vitamin D to sufficiency status (≥20 ng mL −1 ) in the white Caucasian population. While both sun exposure conditions and human skin responses are variable in real life, these quantitative findings provide a guide for authorities devising sunlight exposure recommendations.