Vitamin D is essential for the normal function of bones, teeth, muscles, and the immune system.
For this reason, many people have viewed regular sun exposure as a simple way to maintain adequate vitamin D levels.
According to nutrition experts cited by Prevention, people at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency should instead have their vitamin D levels measured by a healthcare professional and be assessed to determine whether dietary changes or supplements are necessary.
The recommendations are based on assessments by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and registered dietitians featured in Prevention.
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The experts also emphasize that sun protection remains important, as increased sun exposure can raise the risk of sunburn and skin cancer, among other health concerns.
Diet rather than sun
According to the experts, fatty fish such as salmon, trout, tuna, and sardines, as well as fortified dairy products, plant-based beverages, breakfast cereals, egg yolks, and UV-treated mushrooms can help increase vitamin D intake.
For people with a confirmed deficiency, diet alone may not be sufficient.
In such cases, dietary supplements may be an appropriate solution following an assessment by a doctor or another healthcare professional.
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However, the researchers behind the study do not specify exactly how much sun the participants were exposed to or how factors such as sunscreen use, clothing, and medical conditions may have influenced the results.
For that reason, the findings should be interpreted with caution.
New study challenges assumption
The study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, included 299 participants, including older adults and people with darker skin, both of whom are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.
The results showed that around 55 percent of the older participants and 72 percent of the participants with darker skin still had insufficient vitamin D levels even after the summer period, when sun exposure would be expected to be higher.
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The findings therefore suggest that spending more time in the sun is not necessarily enough to correct vitamin D deficiency in these groups.
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