Wednesday, June 16, 2010
An Entire Book on Vitamin D
One of the most outspoken and prolific vitamin D researchers just published a new book on the topic. About 6 years ago, the author, Michael F. Holick, was fired from his post in the Dermatology Department at Boston University for encouraging people to go out in the sun. (His dermatology colleagues didn't like that he was promoting sun exposure when they had been convincing folks for years to slather up in sunscreen.) He continued on in another department and now, has a second book on vitamin D.
I haven't read this book, so would greatly appreciate if someone with more time on their hands could take that on. That said, I have a pretty good idea what this book is going to say: "People of North America....you need more vitamin D to be healthy and if you cannot get it from 10-30 min of sun exposure a day, take a supplement." A whopping $16.29 saved that you can now spend on some chick lit while you sit in the sun at the pool. Remember, only 10-30 min!
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Excellent Summary Doc. Going out for a walkabout this afternoon to get someD
ReplyDeleteMaybe Palm Beach Tan could hand out VItamin D capsules with each spray?
ReplyDeleteI am a BIG proponent of vitamin D!!!! I love me some sun :)
ReplyDeleteIf you spend three hours in the sun is it possible to overdose on vitamin D? Can the Vit D you get in the summer be stored for use in the winter... vital questions - are they answered in the book?
ReplyDeleteHey T - maybe you can help me with my campaign to get ketchup fortified with Vit D and Omega 3s. That way my 2.5 year old can get his daily does of all plus a good wack of sugar and rat poo ( i hear that stuff is complimentary in ketchup).
ReplyDeleteFee...your skin will not keep making vitamin D so that you overdose. In fact, what is made in your skin is an inactive form of vitamin D that is then "activated" by your liver. Your liver will regulate things so that if you need the vitamin D, it makes it otherwise it just gets broken down. It doesn't matter if you're in the sun for 30 or 300 min. In terms of storage, vitamin D has a half-life of about 1-2 months. There are a couple studies in sailors going on a 2 month submarine trip...levels of vitamin D in their blood fall in half after about 2 months (into the insufficient range). So based on that, I'd be scheduling your Florida vacation for late Dec/early Jan.
ReplyDeleteNow karyn...I like your thinking! Best to fortify foods that kids actually eat. I wonder if organic ketchup has only natural rat poo??? I'll look into it. :)