Antarctic winter linked to decreased bone density

eileen · 04-01-2008, 10:57 AM

They should just take a tanning bed with them!Antarctic winter linked to decreased bone density

Tuesday, 1 April , 2008 18:54:00

Reporter: Felicity Ogilvie

MARK COLVIN: For most of us, when it comes to sunshine, it's long been a case of slip, slop and slap.

But Australians on Antarctic expeditions have a sunlight deprivation problem.

A research project has found that expeditioners lost bone density when they spent a winter with little to no sun.

Felicity Ogilvie reports.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The Antarctic winter at Mawson and Davis Stations is so bitterly cold and dark that for four to six weeks during the winter solstice, it's pitch black.

Further north at Australia's third Antarctic Station, Casey, they get about two hours of twilight.

The Australian Antarctic Division's chief medical officer, Dr Jeff Ayton, says the bases are the perfect place to study the effects of sunlight depravation.

JEFF AYTON: Here we have a unique population who are medically screened, fit and well, who are sent to Antarctica to spend the winter, and we are able to study their bone metabolism, and now, look at supplementing their Vitamin D levels.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The Vitamin D deficiency study is headed by a nutritionist from the University of Melbourne, Sandy Iuliano-Burns.

She says it took four months for the Antarctic expeditioners to become Vitamin D deficient.

SANDY IULIANO-BURNS: The key thing that Vitamin D does, it has lots of roles, but the key on is that it enhances calcium absorption from the gut, so therefore if you are able to absorb more calcium, can maintain our blood levels without having to take calcium from the bone to keep those levels.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Antarctica has been chosen as the study location because it's an extreme example of sunlight depravation.

Dr Iuliano-Burns hopes to use what she learns from Antarctica to help Australians who need more Vitamin D.

There's been resurgence in rickets in Australian children, and Dr Iuliano-Burns says many others are also affected by sunlight depravation.

SANDY IULIANO BURNS: One group if the elderly, and a second group are dark-skinned women who are shroud.

We are finding that there is a lot of Vitamin D deficiency in both those two groups, so we're hoping to relate some of this information to these other groups, for example, if someone is to enter a nursing home, how long it would take that person to become Vitamin D deficient, if they are not able to be exposed to sunlight when they are in the nursing home.

FELICITY OGILVIE: Vitamin D deficiency doesn't only lead to fragile bones.

Other studies have looked at the link between sunlight depravation and MS (Multiple Sclerosis), cancer, heart disease and seasonal depression.

But Dr Jeff Ayton says there's not enough people wintering in Antarctica to extend the study beyond bone density.

JEFF AYTON: And we have small populations of around 15 or 17 wintering expeditions at each station, so to look at the immune effects which maybe have relationships to cancers or cardiovascular disease, or mental health, you need to look at large population studies to get some meaningful understand of any potential linkages.

FELICITY OGILVIE: The next part of the Antarctic study on Vitamin D is an attempt to find an optimal dose, to make sure the expeditioners get through winter without becoming deficient.

In Scandinavian and North American Countries that have very dark winters, Vitamin D supplements are put into bread and milk.

Taking cod liver oil is another way of getting Vitamin D.

But the Antarctic Expeditioners aren't being forced to take cod liver oil, they've been given tablets by Dr Iuliano-Burns

SANDY IULIANO BURNS: What we're hoping to see is that the reduction in Vitamin D and the increase in the markers of skeletal activity are blunted with the different doses.

Ideally, the lowest dose is effective, and therefore we know if that is the case, then maybe one tablet before they go, and that's enough to last the whole season.

FELICITY OGILVIE: If there's a Vitamin D tablet that can sustain people through an Antarctic winter, it can be used to keep people healthy in the Australian winter.

The optimal dose should be known by the end of the year.

MARK COLVIN: Felicity Ogilvie.

SOURCE LINK: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2205213.htm

04-01-2008, 10:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
eileen kiss me I'm Derf Join Date: Feb 10 2005 Posts: 6,592 Rep Power: 17	Antarctic winter linked to decreased bone density They should just take a tanning bed with them!Antarctic winter linked to decreased bone density Tuesday, 1 April , 2008 18:54:00 Reporter: Felicity Ogilvie MARK COLVIN: For most of us, when it comes to sunshine, it's long been a case of slip, slop and slap. But Australians on Antarctic expeditions have a sunlight deprivation problem. A research project has found that expeditioners lost bone density when they spent a winter with little to no sun. Felicity Ogilvie reports. FELICITY OGILVIE: The Antarctic winter at Mawson and Davis Stations is so bitterly cold and dark that for four to six weeks during the winter solstice, it's pitch black. Further north at Australia's third Antarctic Station, Casey, they get about two hours of twilight. The Australian Antarctic Division's chief medical officer, Dr Jeff Ayton, says the bases are the perfect place to study the effects of sunlight depravation. JEFF AYTON: Here we have a unique population who are medically screened, fit and well, who are sent to Antarctica to spend the winter, and we are able to study their bone metabolism, and now, look at supplementing their Vitamin D levels. FELICITY OGILVIE: The Vitamin D deficiency study is headed by a nutritionist from the University of Melbourne, Sandy Iuliano-Burns. She says it took four months for the Antarctic expeditioners to become Vitamin D deficient. SANDY IULIANO-BURNS: The key thing that Vitamin D does, it has lots of roles, but the key on is that it enhances calcium absorption from the gut, so therefore if you are able to absorb more calcium, can maintain our blood levels without having to take calcium from the bone to keep those levels. FELICITY OGILVIE: Antarctica has been chosen as the study location because it's an extreme example of sunlight depravation. Dr Iuliano-Burns hopes to use what she learns from Antarctica to help Australians who need more Vitamin D. There's been resurgence in rickets in Australian children, and Dr Iuliano-Burns says many others are also affected by sunlight depravation. SANDY IULIANO BURNS: One group if the elderly, and a second group are dark-skinned women who are shroud. We are finding that there is a lot of Vitamin D deficiency in both those two groups, so we're hoping to relate some of this information to these other groups, for example, if someone is to enter a nursing home, how long it would take that person to become Vitamin D deficient, if they are not able to be exposed to sunlight when they are in the nursing home. FELICITY OGILVIE: Vitamin D deficiency doesn't only lead to fragile bones. Other studies have looked at the link between sunlight depravation and MS (Multiple Sclerosis), cancer, heart disease and seasonal depression. But Dr Jeff Ayton says there's not enough people wintering in Antarctica to extend the study beyond bone density. JEFF AYTON: And we have small populations of around 15 or 17 wintering expeditions at each station, so to look at the immune effects which maybe have relationships to cancers or cardiovascular disease, or mental health, you need to look at large population studies to get some meaningful understand of any potential linkages. FELICITY OGILVIE: The next part of the Antarctic study on Vitamin D is an attempt to find an optimal dose, to make sure the expeditioners get through winter without becoming deficient. In Scandinavian and North American Countries that have very dark winters, Vitamin D supplements are put into bread and milk. Taking cod liver oil is another way of getting Vitamin D. But the Antarctic Expeditioners aren't being forced to take cod liver oil, they've been given tablets by Dr Iuliano-Burns SANDY IULIANO BURNS: What we're hoping to see is that the reduction in Vitamin D and the increase in the markers of skeletal activity are blunted with the different doses. Ideally, the lowest dose is effective, and therefore we know if that is the case, then maybe one tablet before they go, and that's enough to last the whole season. FELICITY OGILVIE: If there's a Vitamin D tablet that can sustain people through an Antarctic winter, it can be used to keep people healthy in the Australian winter. The optimal dose should be known by the end of the year. MARK COLVIN: Felicity Ogilvie. *SOURCE LINK: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2205213.htm* __________________ under-exposure to uv rays is as dangerous as over-exposure...This is "D" life! (eileen)

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