I have read the Vitamin D posts with interest.  One question that has 
come up is just how much sun exposure is safe and effective.  Dr 
Michael F Holick, Ph.D., MD.'s Book The UV Advantage, published in 
2003, has a global longitudinal chart (Safe Sun Tables) which guides 
a person using 5 skin types and geographic location of dwelling to 
discover sun exposure.

His book also expands health effects of vitamin D deficiency well 
beyond rickets.  It has long been known that MS has a longitudinal 
component.  Since Dr Holick's published work some doctors are using 
high levels of Vitamin D supplementation for patients with MS with 
good outcomes. A friend of mine is under such treatment here in 
Milwaukee, WI.  Dr Holick explores several other debilitating 
diseases that are related to sunlight deprivation.

There is a second edition (2007) available and while it probably has 
new important information it is expensive.  One can probably get a 
used copy of the First Edition which does have the Safe Sun Tables.

If you Google the uv advantage you can read some of his findings, 
plus some contradictory opinion after an article was published in the 
New England Journal of Medicine this year.  Clicking on the link 
"dietary supplement fact sheet: vit D" you can read more in depth on 
the topic, including upper limit of safe supplementing.

I was interested in Dr Holick's work when my daughter adopted twin 
African American newborns who were being breastfed.  Living in 
Wisconsin I was concerned and I found his chart on skin color and sun 
requirement to be most helpful.

Declaring the Sun to be dangerous has had far-reaching health 
consequences, particularly for breastfeeding infants.  It is easier 
to recommend total sun avoidance than to teach safe sun exposure. And 
easier for health professionals to perpetuate Fear of Sun than to 
educate themselves and their patients about the safe, cost-saving 
benefits of our gift of the Sun.

Pat  Gima, Retired LC



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