Vitamin D - Daily Mail Article

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Just 15 minutes outside everyday could lengthen everyone's life, say

scientists.

The secret to living longer is to get plenty of sunshine, scientists

revealed today. High doses of Vitamin D - which is mainly absorbed

through the skin from UV rays - can help dramatically slash the risk

of dying, they said. The vitamin, which is also found in eggs and

oily fish, helps the body take in calcium to build bones, can help

cancer victims live longer. Good for you: s enjoying the sun at

Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire, are likely to live longer because

they're absorbing vitamin D. But its overall effect on lifespan was

unknown until now. Austrian researcher Harald Dobnig found the risk

of death doubles if people only have a quarter of what are considered

healthy levels of Vitamin D. Most doctors believe people should have

between 20 to 30 nanograms per millilitre of of the 'sunshine

vitamin'. Yet, alarmingly, only 20 per cent of Britons are estimated

to have absorbed enough of the essential nutrient and 15 per cent

have dangerously low levels. This is thought to because of our long,

dark winters and due to the fact many people spend large amounts of

time indoors. The findings add extra weight to experts' belief that

just 15 minutes outdoors - without sun cream - would do everyone some

good. Dr Dobnig found that the quarter of volunteers with the lowest

levels of vitamin D in their blood were more likely to have died.

He said: " This is the first association study that shows vitamin D

affects mortality regardless of the (primary) reason for death. "

Dr Dobnig and colleagues at the University of Graz, who reported

their findings in the Archives of Internal Medicine, studied more

than 3,200 people with an average age of 62 who were scheduled for a

heart examination between 1997 and 2000.

During an eight-year follow-up programme, the researchers found that

the quarter of volunteers with the lowest levels of vitamin D in

their blood were more likely to have died. Dr Dobnig discovered the

risk was doubled for people with between 5 to 10 nanograms per

millilitre of vitamin D in their blood, even when factors such as

heart disease, exercise and other conditions were taken into account.

What causes this effect is not clear, but the internist and

endocrinologist pointed to a host of studies suggesting links to high

blood pressure, cancer and fractures as places to begin looking.

The potential health risk of low levels of vitamin D should also prod

your GP to be more aware of the problem, especially for the immobile,

elderly and others who spend a great amount of time indoors, he said.

Many doctors agree that people with low levels of vitamin D cannot

make up for it safely by sitting in the sun, but should take

supplements. " These results should prompt us to perform vitamin D

measurements on a more frequent basis especially in populations at

risk, " Dr Dobnig said. In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to

osteoporosis, and it can lead to rickets in children. A number of

recent studies have also indicated vitamin D may offer a variety of

other health benefits, including protecting against cancer,

peripheral artery disease and tuberculosis. Last week, U.S.

researchers said vitamin D may extend the lives of people with colon

and rectal cancer.