Vitamin D has gotten a lot of press the past several years. The more we know what helps or hinder our body’s natural production of vitamin D, the better. Below are some fascinating facts about this vitamin’s relation to the sun:
-Sunscreen with SPF 8, decreased vitamin D synthesis by 97.5%.
-Above latitudes of 35 degrees (where Los Angeles is located), solar intensity is insufficient to allow any vitamin D synthesis during winter months.
-The amount of vitamin D synthesized after sun exposure, equivalent to 1 minimal erythema dose (MED-the amount of exposure it takes for skin to turn slightly pink), would require oral ingestion of 10.000-25,000 IUs of vitamin D3.
Terry Pfau, DO, HMD