Weak sunlight: Vitamin D is required in the Winter not covered

Need for Vitamin D in the Winter in Switzerland, hardly cover

Studies have shown that a large part of the children and young people as well as about half of the over 65-Year-olds in Germany are more or less low values of Vitamin D. Also in the Swiss population Vitamin-D-deficiency. This is apparently due to the climate. Because, as a study has now shown that may not be covered by the Vitamin D requirement in the Swiss Winter due to the weak sunlight.

In the dark Season, the sun is not enough radiation

Health experts repeatedly pointed out that the additional intake of Vitamin D preparations can help in the dark Season, to provide themselves with the so-called “sun vitamin”. Finally, the sun is not enough sunlight from October to March in Germany to ensure that the people produce enough Vitamin D. Also in the Swiss Winter, the skin can not produce due to the weak sunlight enough the body’s own Vitamin D. The have researchers in one study show.

Skin cancer by too much sun

It’s long been known that too much sun increases the risk of developing skin cancer.

Anyone who is not staying but even in the sun, the skin no Vitamin can produce D – a substance that is important for healthy bones, and probably also for the prevention of respiratory tract infections, auto-immune diseases and certain types of cancer.

In a by the Swiss national science Foundation (SNSF) – funded study has now shown that it is in Switzerland, from late autumn to early spring, by Far, it is not possible to synthesize with only the natural sunlight from the world health organization (WHO) recommended daily dose of 0.024 milligrams of Vitamin D.

The results of the interdisciplinary research teams, were published in the journal “Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology“ published.

To reach their conclusions, measures the research intensity of the solar radiation in Switzerland and dined, a year of this data into a computer model.

According to a communication from this exact provides estimates of the influence of solar radiation on the body’s own production of Vitamin D and risk of Sunburn.

The threshold of the WHO seem to be unreachable

The information suggests that the body’s own synthesis of the recommended dose of Vitamin D in the summer to reach.

In the middle of the Day, the skin of an adult, wearing a T-Shirt (and, thus, approximately 22% of skin exposed) produced, therefore, the recommended daily dose in just ten to 15 minutes.

About ten minutes later, however, the sun can occur fire, and the risk of developing skin cancer.

In the Winter, the Situation is different, however. Normally, the face and the hands are then exposed, which corresponds to approximately eight per cent of the body surface.

But, above all, the UV rays of the sun due to its longer path through the atmosphere is weaker. According to the experts, it needs under these conditions an exposure of at least six and a half hours for the recommended daily dose of Vitamin D.

A long stay in the sun is not at this time of year difficult to achieve, but it comes to a sunburn, before the necessary dose of Vitamin D is produced.

“It depends on both the spectral properties of the winter sun, as well as with the concentration on the skin surface,” explains David Vernez, Director of the project and specialist for risk evaluation of the centre Unisanté at the Lausanne University hospital.

“Fortunately, however, this is not often the case.” This gap between summer and Winter was the big Surprise of the study.

“In Switzerland, it is practically impossible to synthesize as much Vitamin D that the recommendations of the WHO in all times of the year will be achieved,” said Vernez. Even with the more conservative recommendations, the threshold seems to be out of reach.

Lack of Vitamin D due to climate

As it says in the message, confirm the Work of researchers of the Swiss population noted deficiency of Vitamin D is due to the climate.

Other questions are still debated, especially the amount of the recommended daily dose, which depending on the source, twice as high.

Or, if dietary supplements are recommended.

“Our most important recommendation is currently that the Solarium should be avoided in the Winter,” said Vernez. “The risk of skin cancer is much greater than any Benefit.”

Not to much the dietary Supplement take

In this country, has not been pointed out in the past few years, to the effect that food supplements with Vitamin D for all people is advisable and it is usually sufficient to refuel in the warm summer months, plenty of sun.

Because of the spring and summer sun for the Vitamin D-memory can easily fill up, because the body stores the fat – soluble Vitamin D in fat and muscle tissue and the liver.

This stock is usually enough to get to without deficiency symptoms about the dark time of the year.

Who applies to such agents, should not take too much of it. Because otherwise it can lead to dangerous Overdoses with serious consequences such as kidney failure. (ad)