By Sarah Minarick, PA-C
While commuting to my previous dermatology office in Illinois, I passed a large billboard every day that promoted tanning bed use as a way to fight Vitamin D deficiency. Sure, the tanning bed industry was correct in promoting healthy levels of Vitamin D, but they were wrong on the safest way to do so.
Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is believed to play an important role in building strong bones and may play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and MS. It can be obtained from diet in foods such as fish (salmon, swordfish, and sardines) or in fortified milk. It is also frequently added to cereal, breads, and orange juice, to name a few. It can also be obtained from sunlight. However, there are many misconceptions regarding the benefit of sunlight in regard to Vitamin D.
It is estimated that fair-skinned individuals can produce adequate levels of Vitamin D with exposure to sunlight 5-10 min/day on a sunny day a few times a week. Although Vitamin D is produced by exposure to UV radiation, it is the UVB rays that are most beneficial, and tanning beds primarily expose individuals to UVA rays, which are much more damaging. In an effort to be healthy, why not limit exposure to radiation and get the adequate amount of Vitamin D the easy way- through supplementation.
The recommended dose of Vitamin D is 600 IU per day for adults up to 70 years old. Most supplements have 400 IU in them. However, higher doses are available. It is an easy blood test to determine whether you are getting enough of this Vitamin. So do yourself a favor, apply that sunscreen liberally and pick up a Vitamin D supplement instead.
References: Webmd.com
