Sun protection and vitamin D status in an Australian subtropical community.
OBJECTIVE
Claims have been made that sun protection may negatively affect vitamin D status, but very few data are available about whether this applies to people in uncontrolled settings.


METHODS
In 1996 we measured 25(OH)-vitamin D concentrations in 1113 adults in Nambour, a subtropical community, who reported their concurrent sun protection behaviours in a skin cancer prevention trial. Estimates were adjusted for time outdoors, vitamin D intake and other factors known to affect vitamin D status.


RESULTS
Persons who tended to stay in the shade had lower vitamin D levels than those who never stayed in the shade (62.5 vs. 68.8 nmol/L respectively, p=0.01), and this association remained in persons who spent less than 50% (p=0.02) but not in those who spent more than 50% of their time outdoors. Wearing a hat, long sleeves, sunglasses and use of sunscreen or umbrella were not associated with vitamin D status after adjustments, including after stratification by time outdoors.


CONCLUSIONS
Sun protection behaviour to reduce the risk of skin cancer can be maintained without affecting vitamin D serum status, although consistently seeking shade when spending less than 50% of daytime outdoors is associated with lower vitamin D levels.
Cancer and Population Studies Group, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
Naomi
N
Jayaratne
Anne
A
Russell
Jolieke C
JC
van der Pols
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D015519:Bone Density; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D059405:Sun Protection Factor; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014329:Tropical Climate / Q000009:adverse effects; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014807:Vitamin D