Sunscreen Use May Lead to Vitamin D Deficiency
Last Updated: April 27, 2012.
Using the amount and sun protection factor of sunscreen recommended by the World Health Organization is associated with little
or no vitamin D production, suggesting that regular sunscreen use may
lead to vitamin D deficiency, according to research published online
April 18 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Using the amount and sun
protection factor (SPF) of sunscreen recommended by the World Health
Organization (WHO) is associated with little or no vitamin D production,
suggesting that regular sunscreen use may lead to vitamin D deficiency,
according to research published online April 18 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Annesofie Faurschou, M.D., Ph.D., of Bispebjerg Hospital in
Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues conducted a study involving 37
healthy volunteers with fair skin to measure serum vitamin D
(25-hydroxyvitamin D3) levels before and after exposure to
ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation following sunscreen application. Sunscreen
with an SPF of 8 was applied on approximately 25 percent of body area
at a concentration (thickness) of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, or 2 mg/cm². A fixed
dose of UVB of three standard erythema doses was given 20 minutes after
sunscreen application every two to three days, for a total of 4 cycles.
The researchers found that thinner sunscreen layers were associated
with higher vitamin D serum levels after UVB exposure. However, vitamin D
levels did not significantly rise after UVB exposure in those treated
with the thickest layer of sunscreen (2 mg/cm²), which is the level
recommended by the WHO.
"In this study, we demonstrated that the vitamin D serum level
increases in an exponential manner with decreasing thickness of
sunscreen layer in response to UVB exposure. To our knowledge, this
relation has not previously been described," the authors write. "Our
results suggest that sunscreen use according to the current
recommendations by the WHO may be re-evaluated."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vitamin D Council 1241 Johnson Avenue #134 · San Luis Obispo · California · United States · 93401
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy!
~ Gencho