Short on vitamin D|
A study indicates African-Americans in low-sunlight areas have a particularly high risk of vitamin D deficiency, but even 18 percent of white people in the same areas are deficient. Dr. Adam Murphy of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine saw this in almost 500 Chicago men. Sunshine triggers the skin to make vitamin D, and Dr. Murphy says the pigment melanin, which makes skin darker, interferes with sunlight absorption. So he says: "The answer for African-Americans at least won't be to be in the sun more. It's probably going to be taking supplements or increasing their dietary intake." (8 seconds) The study presented at an American Association for Cancer Research meeting was supported by the National Institutes of Health. |
