Science Forums 2

[Michaelangelica]

Seems we need about an hour aday of sun depending on many other variables.

When the skin is exposed to ultraviolet light, it creates a reaction in the body that makes vitamin D. How much vitamin D is produced depends on skin color, latitude, age, time of year and diet. Generally, about 15 - 20 minutes a day on your face, arms and hands will produce about 200 IU. If you wear a bathing suit and get several hours of exposure in a day without suntan lotion, you will produce about 5,000 - 10,000 IU per day.* (The U.S. RDA is 400 IU per day.)

I might try it for my Blood Pressure, out with the bathing suit in -winter?

It is common to see blood pressure increase in the winter and decline in the summer and increase at greater distances from the equator. I have seen several cases of high blood pressure that were unresponsive to many therapies. When individuals supplemented with 4,000 IU per day of vitamin D, their blood pressure returned to normal.

I have a friend with diabetes, he is an actor and playwright and rarely sees the sun.

Vitamin D is also very helpful in treating diabetes and blood-sugar problems. Several studies demonstrated that taking about 1,300 IU of vitamin D per day for 30 days changed insulin levels by almost 25 percent.

How much is enough?
How much is too much?

If you do not go out in the sun and/or wear sun block when you are outside, then you most likely will need about 2,000 - 3,000 IU per day as an adult (1,500 - 2,000 IU for children three to ten years old). These are very safe levels. If you are in the sun for at least an hour a day, and you are getting tan on your arms, legs and face, then most likely you don’t need any supplemental vitamin D. If there is a deficiency, I have found supplementing with vitamin D to be the safest and easiest way to remedy the deficiency.

I also recommend that you get a blood test to check your vitamin D status. Ask your healthcare practitioner to check for 25(OH)D (this measures the most active form of vitamin D). The optimal range is 40 - 65 ng/mL. Below 40 is a sign of mild deficiency, below 30 is worse and below 20 indicates an all-out vitamin D deficiency. In the last 50 people we tested, only two people came back with normal levels — they were both very tan (from frequent trips to California and Mexico). If you are deficient, then I recommend that you take about 5,000 IU per day for 2 - 3 days and then re-check your levels.

From the archives of a great website
Issue 8
Vitamin D Delivers
by Dr. David Ramaley
Polishing Stone