Women in the north of the UK are more deprived of vitamin D from sunlight compared with their southern counterparts.
Scientists found those living north of the border are exposed to 50 per cent less sunlight during the summer months. This undermines the body’s ability to generate vitamin D, which is essential to protect the body from osteoporosis.
The researchers say the findings highlight the need for better public advice on ways to boost vitamin D levels during the winter months.
In the study, more than 500 women between the ages of 55 and 70 living in Aberdeen and Surrey were asked to wear a badge with a film that detected the amount of UVB rays they were exposed to daily.
Between the months of November and April, 40 per cent of women in Aberdeen showed less than the threshold levels of vitamin D needed to protect the body from risk of osteoporosis, compared to only 10 per cent of women in Surrey.
Although the figures fell during the summer months, nine per cent of women in Aberdeen were still deficient in the sunshine vitamin.
Both groups of women obtained similar amounts of vitamin D from their diet alone but this was not enough to make up for the deficit in sun exposure.
Sunlight
Dr Helen Macdonald, from the University of Aberdeen’s Institute of Medical Sciences, said: “Vitamin D is highly important in the prevention of bone diseases such as osteoporosis, helping our bodies absorb more calcium through our diet.
“Studies have also suggested those who are deficient of vitamin D — may be more at risk of diseases including heart disease, cancer and muscular sclerosis.
“Our results showed Caucasian women in the north of the country were significantly more deprived of UVB rays than in the south.”
Women should not rely upon diet alone to provide adequate levels of vitamin D. Oily fish and egg yolks are both rich in vitamin D, Dr Macdonald added.
“Dietary sources of vitamin D are important but the vitamin D status in the current diet of women in the UK is unlikely to be adequate, she said.
“We cannot assume that winter requirements of vitamin D are met by the stores accumulated over summer if people do not get enough sunlight to make sufficient vitamin D.
“We need to look at appropriate guidelines regarding safe sunlight exposure, to strike the balance between ensuring adequate protection from the sun and obtaining vitamin D from UVB rays,” she added.
The findings are published in the journal Osteoporosis International.
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New health advice recommends short spells in the sun – without suncream and in the middle of the day.
Seven organisations have issued joint advice on vitamin D, which the body gets from natural sunlight.
The nutrient keeps bones strong, and protects against conditions like osteoporosis.
The guidance was drawn up because it is thought fears about skin cancer have made people too cautious about being in the sun.
Cancer Research UK and the National Osteoporosis Society are among the bodies which agree that “little and frequent” spells in summer sunshine several times a week can benefit your health.
The experts now say it is fine to go outside in strong sun in the middle of the day, as long as you cover up or apply sunscreen before your skin goes red.
Professor Rona Mackie, from the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “Total sun protection with high factor suncream on all the time is not ideal, in terms of vitamin D levels.
“Even Australia has changed its policy on this. They’re now producing charts showing parts of Australia where sun protection may not be required during some parts of the year.
“Some of the messages about sun exposure have been too negative. UK summer sunshine isn’t desperately strong. We don’t have many days in the year when it is very intense.
“What’s changed is that we’re now saying that exposure of 10 to 15 minutes to the UK summer sun, without suncream, several times a week is probably a safe balance between adequate vitamin D levels and any risk of skin cancer.”
Official government advice already recommends vitamin D supplements for pregnant women and children aged under five.
But the experts who wrote the joint statement say mothers often are not made aware of this recommendation. They suggest women consult their GP.
Winter levels of vitamin D can be helped by a break in the tropical sun – or by eating oily fish, liver and fortified margarine.
Cancer Research UK’s chief clinician, Professor Peter Johnson, said: “A good diet and sensible sun exposure will be adequate for the great majority of the UK population to minimise their cancer risk.
“The area of vitamin D and cancer is complex.
“There’s some evidence, which is strongest in bowel cancer, that low levels of vitamin D in the blood correlate with the risk of developing cancer.
“But that doesn’t mean those low levels cause bowel cancer.
“We think overall that low levels of vitamin D are unlikely to be major contributors to the chances of developing cancer in the UK population.”
The joint statement also highlighted questions about vitamin D that warrant further research.
These include finding out the optimal levels of vitamin D, and more detail about the role of dietary sources and supplements.
A new study highlights the importance of getting adequate exposure to the sun to prevent many serious illnesses.
The study found that the deficiency of vitamin D, which is created in our bodies from exposure to the sun, is linked to over 200 genes, many of which are associated with autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as leukemia and colorectal cancer.
“Our study shows quite dramatically the wide-ranging influence that vitamin D exerts over our health,” said lead author Dr Andreas Heger from the MRC Functional Genomics Unit at Oxford University.
Using DNS sequencing technology, the study found the points at which vitamin D interacts with DNA and the genes it directly influences.
“There is now evidence supporting a role for vitamin D in susceptibility to a host of diseases. Vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and the early years could have a beneficial effect on a child’s health in later life. Some countries such as France have instituted this as a routine public health measure,” said author Dr Sreeram Ramagopalan from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics.
One billion people worldwide are thought to suffer from vitamin D deficiency. This is thought to be largely caused by lack of exposure to the sun, as well as a poor diet.
Vitamin D is generated by the body when it is exposed to sunlight. In fact, about 90 per cent of your vitamin D comes from sunshine, so experts recommend sensible sun exposure in the summer.
You might need as little as 30 minutes of sun twice a week, using no sunscreen. This would be enough to provide the body with adequate vitamin D. Alternative sources of vitamin D include oily fish, liver, eggs, butter and milk.
The results of the study are published today in the journal Genome Research.