LUCKNOW: Doctors at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences on Thursday revealed that use of sunscreen, a must item in the schedule of most girls and women, blocks the absorption of natural vitamin D which is needed for strong bones.
"The body stops making vitamin D after someone applies a sunscreen lotion with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) more than eight units," said Prof Sushil Gupta, faculty, department of endocrinology, SGPGIMS while talking to reporters. He informed that many more aspects related to bone health will be discussed at the eighth annual general meeting of Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research starting September 29.
He added that a person gets vitamin D when he/she is exposed in the Sun, but people especially young girls are scared of tanning. To prevent themselves from sun burn, they apply sunscreen lotion on their body which deprives them from vitamin D which is a main source of nutrient.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead thin and brittle bones, which increases the risk of osteoporosis. The common fractures caused by osteoporosis are those of hip, spine and forearm. Apart from osteoporosis, lack of Vitamin D in the body results pain in muscles and bone, muscle weakness and easy fatigability. Experts said that the deficiency of vitamin D may be linked to both maternal and infant health. Besides this, vitamin D deficiency causes cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and congestive heart failure.
According to an estimate, more than 70% of India's population suffers from Vitamin D deficiency. Researchers feel that vitamin D is necessary for good health. Vitamin D supplementation is needed in pregnant mothers, as it is associated with increased skeleton growth and bone mass in off springs. It also regulates cell growth, neuro-muscular and immune function in the body. Some studies say that it plays an important role in preventing cancer which includes breast, prostate, and colon tumours.
So be careful before you get lured to the claims made by pharmaceutical companies that their sunscreen lotion would save your skin from tanning.
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