There is a ‘D’ in Healthy Aging

By Dr. Franco

There is nothing like the warm sensation of feeling the sun rays warming up your skin and filling your soul with joy and energy. I can still remember consciously experiencing this for the first time when I was three years old, my own ‘sun birth’. I was taking swimming lessons, after which I laid down for a couple of minutes enjoying the warmth of our star and left with the necessary energy for the soccer match that was to follow.

But taking the sun does not only feel good, it is also good for our health.
Adequate levels of sun exposure are fundamental to avoid low levels of vitamin D, which have been associated with increased risk of suffering from osteoporosis, diabetes, metabolic syndrome (a conglomerate of metabolic abnormalities that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality) and depressive symptoms.

In a recent study published in the scientific journal ‘Diabetes Care’ we evaluated the levels of vitamin D in a population of Chinese (aged 50+) and the impact of these on metabolic syndrome. We found alarming low levels of vitamin D with almost 70 percent of this population having vitamin D deficiency. We also found that low levels of vitamin D were associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance (a step involved in the development of diabetes).
Analyses in other populations (including Americans) have found similarly low levels of vitamin D in the elderly and significant associations with metabolic syndrome highlighting the need for us all to seek adequate levels of sun exposure, normally recommended as no more than 30 minutes twice per week.

Just as I pleasantly remember my early sun encounters, however, I can still feel the exasperatingly unpleasant sensation in my skin secondary to abusive sun exposure. Moderation is key, and too much of anything -even if it’s good- is detrimental… and sun exposure is not the exception. Too much sun will not only give you the unpleasant feeling of an irritating sunburn but also an increased risk of skin cancer. But this should not make us afraid of the sun; just remember not to soak up too much heat. Enjoy the gifts that Mother Nature blessed us with, but remember, moderation is the key.

Reference:
Lu L, Yu Z, Pan A, Hu FB, Franco OH, Li H, Li X, Yang X, Chen Y, Lin X. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals. Diabetes Care. 2009 Jul;32(7):1278-83