When Sun Protection Begets Malnutrition: Vitamin D Deficiency in Japanese Women

There is increasing evidence that overuse of sunscreen has contributed to a dramatic increase in the number of people with deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D. Many people are spending less time outdoors these days and, when they do go out in the sun, they typically wear sunscreen, which can essentially nullify the body’s ability to produce vitamin D naturally when skin is exposed to sunlight.

Among women of childbearing age, vitamin D deficiency is especially concerning because it increases the risk of pregnancy complications, such as hypertension and low birth weight. Moreover, there is also evidence that sunscreen may be bad for the heart and that the chemicals contained in it can potentially enter the body at risky levels after just one day of use.

To read how researchers have found an inverse relationship between levels of sun exposure and all-cause mortality, see this article on our website.