A team of scientists in Spain recently estimated the duration of exposure to solar radiation needed to obtain the recommended doses of vitamin D.
If in spring and summer 10-20 minutes spent in the sun are enough for this purpose, in the winter months it takes almost two hours to reach optimal levels, hence the reason why the vast majority of the population faces a deficiency of this vitamins, informs Science Daily.
Although exposure to ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation can contribute to sunburn, cancer and premature aging of the skin, it also helps reduce blood pressure, the synthesis of vitamin D and supports the treatment of several diseases, say researchers from Solar Radiation Research Group from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV).
They determined the time required to obtain a sufficient amount of vitamin D naturally, without adversely affecting health.
Maria Antonia Serrano, scientist at UPV and main author of the study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, said that despite the mild climate, with a lot of sun, the population of her country also faces a deficiency of this vitamin. “Although Spain is a country with many hours of natural light, several articles have reported an increased percentage of those with vitamin D deficiency,” she said.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of developing diseases, and its synthesis through the skin, achieved after sun exposure, is the main natural source of this nutrient, given that there are very few foods that contain it.
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Age also plays an important role, with older people synthesizing this nutrient with greater difficulty.
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