Case report
Vitamin D – The True and the False about Vitamin D
Sanja Poduje
Ines Sjerobabski-Masnec
Suzana Ožanić-Bulić
Abstract
Vitamin D has a positive impact on our overall health. Also there are a few conditions with strong evidence for a protective
effect of vitamin D, such as bone diseases, internal cancers, multiple sclerosis, hypertension and DM type 1. Skin
is the major source of vitamin D through the action of UVB light on keratinocytes, although the biologically active form
of vitamin D is not exclusively produced in the kidney, but also in prostate, colon, skin and osteoblast where it acts as an
autocrine or paracrine hormone. In the past decade raising incidence of skin cancers, especially melanoma and its connection
with sun exposure lead to a sun protection policies and practices as part of the public health campaigns. The
question is how much solar UV exposure is adequate to maintain the balance between the risk and the benefit. We as dermatologists
have to raise public awareness of the potential health effects from excessive exposure to UV radiation but also
we have to be aware that adequate blood level of vitamin D is necessary for optimal health. So future recommendation on
sun protection have to balance between the risk and benefits of sun exposure, as well as to promote vitamin D supplementation
as a safe alternatives in high risk population.
Keywords
vitamin D; UVB; sun protection policies; vitamin D supplementation
Hrčak ID:
34644
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2008.
Visits: 2.986 *