how much 'sunshine' for vitamin D?

[maz]

We've just come back from the Pead's as he asked us if Mateauz gets sunshine? WTF??? I asked him why and he said that his bow leggedness could be from being deficent in vitamin D I dont sit and time how long we are outside for andim wondering if I have to now?

SO does anyone know how long is enough sunshine a day to keep the Vitamin D at bay? and does it vary from adults to children?

[Olive]

i think he'd have to had next to no sunlight exposure ever for it to cause the bow legs maz, id day 10-15 mins a day would be fine could be mighty wrong though!!

[rufalina]

I have low Vit D and my Dr said 15-20 mins in the sun with arms and chest (i.e. in a singlet) exposed most days would be OK. But I am not good at doing it, I have really fair skin, and I am terrible with DS as he is so fair, I lather him up in sunscreen and a hat... But I do try....

[maz]

AJP - the vitamin D along with a genetic thing being southern european decent can cause the bow leggedness....stupid friggen day

thanks girls

[Arimeh]

Yeah I've always been told that its about 15 minutes a day. But you won't absorb it without enough of another vitamin - can't remember what it is - maybe C? Or maybe its the other way round, you won't absorb vitamin c without enough D...

Crap. Can't remember. I'm sure someone here can clear it up for me.

[Jahzara]

Yeah I've always been told that its about 15 minutes a day. But you won't absorb it without enough of another vitamin - can't remember what it is - maybe C? Or maybe its the other way round, you won't absorb vitamin c without enough D...

Crap. Can't remember. I'm sure someone here can clear it up for me.

Not sure Mel - but i know that for Calcium to be absorbed you need vitamin D
Does that help ?

Maz - i would say 15 - 20 mins a day -

ETA - snap Salsa !

[Salsa]

Maz, the GP tested me recently and my D level was very low. He said about getting sunshine (about 10 mins a day), but also said that some peoples bodies are just not as good as others at storing it. Hope that makes you feel a bit better


Mel - its Vit D thats needed for calcium absorption. Vit C is what you need to help your body get iron.

[~Kim~]

Maz....did he offer a solution??

[Salsa]

oh and just have Oprah on and Dr OZ said something that reminded me -
Vit D can also be found naturally in tinned oily fish. So sardines on toast is a good thing to have for lunch a few times a week ... bit of salt and pepper -its not that bad

[maz]

Maz....did he offer a solution??

we have to have x rays to see if there is a developmental delay in his hip/s and worse case senario then shunts will have to be put into his actual hip (surgically). this is a 5% chanch of happening

We may be lucky and he may be the other 95% of kids that just go PING and his legs might jsut straighten out by them selves

[Arimeh]

Mel - its Vit D thats needed for calcium absorption. Vit C is what you need to help your body get iron.

God I'm glad there is smart people on here.. LOL

[Jellyfish]

I have been told about 8 minutes a day and it can even be just your feet in the sunshine

Vit D deficiency is on the rise because we are so efficient at slip, slop, slapping!