Children Not Getting Enough Vitamin D3-Study

According to a recent study children in the USA are not getting enough vitamin-D during the Summer months.

Researchers found that only children with fair, white skin living in the northern United States do, and if no sunscreen is used.

Experts believed that everyday outdoor exposure to the sun was sufficient to give people the recommended daily dose.

Researchers wanted to know if that type of exposure was enough to give children 600 iu per day.

Data from a survey of nearly 10,000 people including 2000 children were examined. They used a skin-type scale which placed them into categories based on skin complexion and tolerance to sunlight.

There were six categories ranging from type 1 ( very fair, usually burns, difficulty tanning) to type 6 (black, never burns, tans easily).

The results of the study showed that only the fair skin children (type 2) were able to achieve the minimum recommended daily dose of vitamin D3 from the sun.

Children with skin type 3-4 may achieve the recommended daily requirements, but without the use of sunscreen.

The children with the darker skin ( type V and type VI) may never achieve optimal production.

Read the report