As I write this blog, I am looking out of my office on to a cold, wet, blustery and overcast Auckland day. The UV index is about 2.5 so I am not so concerned with sun exposure but what about vitamin D?
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin. It is important for bone health and has other functions. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world but 90% of vitamin D is made by exposure of the skin to sunlight. Some foods contain natural sources of vitamin D and some have it added. How can we make enough vitamin D and at the same time minimise the risk of skin cancer?
Most New Zealanders have adequate levels of vitamin D. However, New Zealanders with skin of colour can develop deficiency especially when combined with clothing that covers a lot of the skin. Other New Zealanders may need to avoid the sun because they have skin conditions that are made worse by sunlight, for example systemic lupus erythematosus. Those who are at risk of skin cancer or who have had skin cancer are advised to protect against excessive sun exposure. Some medications can make you more sensitive to the sun, for example the antibiotic doxycycline.
The New Zealand Ministry of Health offers excellent advice on how to manage the problem of too little vitamin D and too much sun exposure, balancing benefit and risk. Different circumstances demand different solutions. This advice is easily accessible at the Ministry of Health website. If needed your doctor can prescribe a vitamin D tablet for you.