While excessive exposure to sunlight raises the risk of skin cancer, nearly 80 percent of office workers in the nation suffer vitamin D deficiency due to insufficient exposure to the sun and frequent use of sunscreen, a survey showed yesterday.
The poll, conducted by the Lianan Wellness Center among 3,366 office employees from January to March, found that about 84 percent of the respondents had a 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood level of below 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml).
Among them, as much as 39 percent even suffered a severe lack of vitamin D with a level less than 20 ng/ml, the survey showed.
“A further analysis of the survey indicated that vitamin D inadequacy was more prevalent among female respondents than among male respondents, with the former facing a three times higher risk of experiencing a lack of the vitamin,” Lianan Wellness Center cardiologist Tsai Chung-wen (蔡忠文) told a news conference in Taipei.
Tsai said the situation was even more serious in younger respondents, with nearly 90 percent of those aged 39 or below having low readings.
The results disprove the traditional idea that elderly people are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency, Tsai said.
It could be due to widespread belief among the younger generation that “a white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults,” Tsai said, a notion that could be leading to young people using sunscreen as often as possible, limiting their vitamin D absorption.
Tsai said vitamin D is not only essential for strong bones and muscles, but recent studies also suggest that a lack of the vitamin could lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and even cancers.
The survey showed that respondents with low levels of vitamin D were 1.3 times more susceptible to abnormal levels of low-density lipoprotein — so-called “bad” cholesterol; 1.5 times more prone to developing metabolic syndrome and had a higher body-mass index; and 1.7 times more likely to have abnormal blood pressure.
“People are advised to maintain their vitamin D at levels above 30ng/ml,” Tsai said.
“The best way to absorb the vitamin is from exposure to the sun,” Tsai added.
“It is unwise to put one’s health at risk for the sake of appearance,” Tsai said.
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