Don Smith

This new article shows that "old farts" like me who want to be full of "**** and vinegar" again need to spend more time outdoors in sunlight (or patronize an indoor tanning salon two or three times each week).

Will an increase in vitamin D levels allow folks over 60 years of age (like me) to live a healthier, happier, more active and longer life?

There's only one way to find out!

PS: Tell the dermoterrorists to put their recommendation for sun avoidance where the sun doesn't shine.

Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Jun 25. [Epub ahead of print]Frequency of Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in the US Population: Results from the Third National Health and NutritionExamination Survey.Scragg R, Camargo CA Jr.School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. The decline in vitamin D status among older people is probably due to decreasedsynthesis of vitamin D by sun-exposed skin and/or decreased outdoor activity. Theauthors examined the association between outdoor leisure physical activity andserum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) (n = 15,148 aged >/=20 years). The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin Dconcentration declined with increasing age, with 79, 73, and 68 nmol/liter forpersons aged 20-39, 40-59, and 60 or more years. The proportion that engaged inoutdoor activity in the past month was 80% for persons aged 20-39 and 40-59 yearsbut 71% for those aged 60 or more years. In contrast, the mean difference in25-hydroxyvitamin D between those who participated in outdoor activities dailycompared with those who did not participate in the past month was similar for theyoungest and oldest age groups: 13 and 16 nmol/liter, respectively. Those personsaged 60 or more years who participated in daily outdoor activities had a mean25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration similar to that of persons aged 20-39 years: 77versus 79 nmol/liter, respectively.

These nationally representative data suggest that persons aged 60 or more years can
synthesize enough vitamin D from daily outdoor activities to maintain vitamin D levels
similar to those of young adults.

eileen

Don's on a roll! I love it.

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"under exposure to UV rays is as dangerous as overexposure....this is D life" eileen