Does Vitamin D Really Come From The Sun?

Where does Vitamin D come from?

Firstly, it’s important to understand that while the sun is a crucial factor in providing us with vitamin D, the sun itself doesn’t actually transfer vitamin D to our skin through its rays. It is, in fact, our own bodies that synthesise vitamin D in the skin from exposure to sunlight and other artificial sources of Ultraviolet B (UVB) light. In effect, the sun brings out the good in us; and you thought it was the beach-side ice-creams that played their part...

The Different Ds

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in three commonly known forms:

Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). Having trouble pronouncing this? Try: urgh-oh-kal-siff-er-role! D2 is synthesised in food via exposure to ultraviolet light and is not naturally found in the body. It is much less efficient at raising Vitamin D blood levels than D3.
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). How about this one? Try: cauli-kal-siff-er-roll! D3 is naturally made in the skin after UVB exposure. Additionally it can also be found naturally in certain foods and is the preferred source.
synthetic version of the active form of vitamin D (calcitriol) . Vitamin D needs to be converted into its active form for the body to be able to utilise it. After exposure to UVB light, the D3 form is converted into calcidiol (this is what is measured in vitamin D blood tests) in the liver and then to calcitriol (the active form) in the cells, such as those of the kidneys and other organs.

Why do we need Vitamin D?

Calcitriol – the active version of the vitamin – is not only important in the metabolism of calcium, but it is responsible for gene activation, regulation of cell growth, cell suicide (apoptosis) and immune system regulation. It is also involved in the release of neurotransmitters like “the-happy-hormone” serotonin that strongly impacts our mental state. So in a nutshell, active vitamin D is hugely important for the immune system, and our happiness to boot. In recent years sufficient Vitamin D levels have become a concern due to our lack of sun exposure

Moreover, in recent years sufficient Vitamin D levels have become a concern due to our lack of sun exposure. This is due to:

Increased use of sunscreens for skin cancer prevention - up to 95% of UVB rays are blocked by sunscreen.
Reduced time in the sun - our long working hours and our increasing reliance on technology keep us indoors more than ever.

Unfortunately, the odd few who become lobsters every Christmas don’t make up for the rest of us who prefer to remain as snowmen!

Vitamin D deficiency

Rickets in children have long been associated with vitamin D deficiency, as has Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), However, current research shows that vitamin D deficiency is a significant factor in many additional ailments, such as:

Infections like influenza and tuberculosis
Autoimmune Conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes (I & II), Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lower Digestive Complaints, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Coeliac Disease
Cardiovascular Disease
Cancer - breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, ovarian, prostate
Osteoporosis

This highlights how vital vitamin D is for our ongoing health and happiness.

Get enough vitamin D without the risk of sunburn

No matter how you look at it, the sun always seems to come out on top as the best source of Vitamin D, but when it is not possible to soak it up, or when it poses too many risks in itself, there are food sources and D3 dietary supplements that can provide adequate amounts of Vitamin D. Summer: We recommend getting 10-15 minutes of sun exposure from 10am - 2pm without sunscreen to get the important UVB rays. However, since this time of day also has the fastest burn time, we suggest keeping out of the sun from 12pm-1pm and covering the skin before even the slightest signs of redness are noticed. Exposure of the torso, arms and legs provides maximal vitamin D production. The face and hands produce very little. Winter: Winter sun does not have significant levels of UVB rays, unless you are near the equator, so we recommend looking to these food sources for vitamin D:

Fish liver oils - cod
Fish - mackerel, halibut, salmon, sardines and tuna
Oysters
Dairy products - butter and milk
Mushrooms
Sprouted seeds - sunflower seeds

Finally, vitamin D3 supplementation can help to keep the winter blues away, as well as colds and flu’s. The Vitamin D Council advises the following supplementation per day in the absence of sun exposure: **However it is important to consult your healthcare practitioner to work out what is right for you.