The debate between dermatologists and experts on vitamin D has reached scorching proportions. Further controversy was ignited after Dr. Holick, one of the most distinguished experts on vitamin D, was forced to resign from his position at the Boston University Medical School after releasing a book supporting the benefits of moderate sun exposure and downplaying the risks of skin cancer. These debates have added to the confusion of the public and prompted questions such as:

• "How much sun is considered safe?
• "What kind of benefits does vitamin D offer?"
• "Why not just get the benefits from a supplement?"

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble substance. This means it could dissolve in or be stored by fat deposits in the body. Some of the natural food sources that contain vitamin D include:

• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Sardines
• Cod liver oil
• Fortified foods including milk, breakfast cereals and certain juices

Vitamin D could also be derived from vitamin supplements or synthesized in the skin during sun exposure.

Role of Vitamin D

For years, vitamin D has been looked upon as essential for healthy bones. One of the key roles of vitamin D is its ability to help absorb calcium in the small intestine. The people who fall in the vitamin deficient category are only able to absorb a mere third to half as much calcium as those who receive sufficient amounts. People deficient in vitamin D are then prone to two types of bone diseases. Adults are at risk of osteoporosis, a loss of bone density and ostomalacia, a softening of the bone. Children on the other hand are at risk of rickets, softening of the bones.

Who's at Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency?

A small resurgence in the case of rickets, particularly among African-American children, over the past few years has raised concerns over whether or not people are getting enough vitamin D. Experts found the following groups were at risk of vitamin D deficiency:

• The elderly
• African-Americans and other darkly-pigmented people
• Infants who are exclusively breast-fed
• Women of child-bearing age, particularly African Americans
• Healthy children and adolescents

Experts are referring to vitamin D deficiency as the "hidden epidemic." They are most concerned about how it could hinder the proper bone development in children and lead to possible future bone disorders down the road.

Vitamin D Fights Off Diseases

The latest vitamin D research has shown that it has the ability to fight off several diseases such as colon, breast and prostate cancers. Although this research hasn't been conclusive it has given researchers much promise.

It has also been discovered that vitamin D also helps prevent specific autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to providing protection against these diseases it also has the potential to play an anti-inflammatory role in the body.

Sources of Vitamin D

The consensus among vitamin D experts is that getting moderate UVB exposure without sunscreen holds the answer to maintaining adequate blood levels. The exceptions, of course, would be those with the history of skin cancer or sensitivities to the sun. Their theory behind getting your vitamin D intake from the sun is that most people don't eat enough salmon and drink enough milk to fulfill their vitamin D requirement.

How Much Sun do we Need?

Experts recommend that just getting small increments of sun exposure each day would supply a person with the adequate amount of vitamin D production. They also stated the difficulty of placing an exact time amount of sun exposure per person because of factors such as season, time of day and the amount of skin exposed.

Slate August 24, 2004