Sunshine is good for us, say experts

17 September 2004 06:45

Millions of Britons are deficient in a vitamin that protects against a host of diseases including rickets, diabetes and cancer, Norfolk scientists claimed yesterday.

Fear of the sun and an "indoor" culture were both said to have contributed to the problem, which is also present in other western countries.

Experts from the University of East Anglia in Norwich and the Institute of Food Research (IFR) at Colney told a briefing in London urgent action was needed to raise vitamin D levels, particularly among pregnant women, young children and people with dark skin.

Dr Birgit Teucher, from the IFR, who joined three of his colleagues to highlight the problem, said: "Since the 1980s it has become increasingly apparent that vitamin D has important roles apart from its effects on bone.

"Shortage of vitamin D may be associated with a whole range of diseases, including muscle weakness, hypertension, auto-immune diseases including multiple sclerosis, certain types of cancer, and cardiovascular disease."

They suggested that one remedy might be widening vitamin D fortification of food, possibly to include bread and milk or encouraging people to take supplements such as cod liver oil capsules.

Prof Graham Bentham, from the UEA, added: "During these winter months we rely on what we have stored in our body from summer exposure and what we get from diet."

About 80pc of the vitamin D obtained in the body is synthesised through the conversion of chemicals in the skin by sunlight.

But the scientists warned against using sunbathing as a solution, as UVB rays that produce vitamin D also cause skin cancer, and the disease was on the increase.

In Britain, from October to the end of March, the sun is too weak to produce any vitamin D.

The importance of vitamin D to all-round good health has only come to be recognised in the last two decades, the experts said.

Before then it was only thought to benefit the bones, and in particular protect against rickets.

But today it was clear that vitamin D deficiency was associated with a wide range of diseases, and that the vitamin was needed in higher doses than previously thought.

There was evidence that the vitamin protected against breast, prostate, ovarian and colon cancer, and had a major impact on diabetes.

It also reduced tissue damage caused by certain infections such as tuberculosis, leprosy and gum disease, as well as rheumatoid arthritis.

Care also had to be taken not to overdose the population because very high levels of vitamin D could be toxic, leading to kidney and brain damage.

There is currently no recommended level of vitamin D intake between the ages of four and 64.

Professor Bentham suggested that everyone should be taking about 12.5 micrograms of the vitamin.

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