Australia and New Zealand adopted the Slip-Slop-Slap campaign about 30 years ago.
They have been “protecting” themselves with sun screen at all times of the day, not just the middle of the day.
As a result, they have gotten very little vitamin D from the sun.
In Dec 2011 Australia reported 73% of population had less than 30 nanograms of vitamin D based on a study made in 2000
In March 2012 New Zealand reported 32% of population had less than 20 nanograms of vitamin D based on a study made in 2009
Based on many studies from many other countries around the world we can expect that in 2012
80% of Australia and New Zealand will have < 30 nanograms of vitamin D
Even higher percentage (probably >90%) of certain groups will be vitamin D deficient:
- obese
- senior
- dark skin
- pregnant
- high latitude (far from the sun)
- 20 additional reasons/groups
Australia has not changed their recommendations since 2008 - still have 200 IU daily
New Zealand has made a small step in the right direction with 1,600 IU daily (50,000 IU monthly)
However: UVB (vitamin D) has not increased, though UVA did increase
Would have been nice to have had a sunscreen which blocked just UVA,
Unfortunately, most suncreens block both UVA and UVB
Some sunscreens block UVB more than UVA - the exact opposite of what is wanted
Sunscreen in some pills may block UVA but not UVB - which would be GREAT!!
These pills might provide more of the wanted spectrum (UVB) instead of the actual sunscreen spectrum (UVA)
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Perspective: The Middle East has even less Vitamin D
Many people in the Middle East now have less than 10 nanograms
They managed to become deficient without applying sunscreen cream
- Dark skin (natural sunscreen)
- concealing clothes (wearable sunscreen)
- very hot sun
- air conditioning, etc.