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Iolaumyesterday at 11:09 AM8 repliesview on HN

Your body makes Vitamin D when in sunlight. Could it be that sunlight - and the whole being outdoors situation - is the thing that helps rather than vitamin d levels?


Replies

rini17yesterday at 11:13 AM

There's a research that winter sunlight in northern latitudes just does not convert precursors to vitamin D. Even when it's shining, no matter how long you are outside.

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account42yesterday at 11:26 AM

Well if you'd be so kind to move the earth so that we get enough sun during winter then that'll solve the problem.

dennis_jeeves2yesterday at 2:17 PM

Interesting point, there is at least one theory out there which says that neither sunlight nor Vitamin D is necessary if an individual is really healthy. The ones that feel better on the Sun and/or Vitamin D are people who are at least mildly unhealthy and it's of form of addiction where the individual ought to keep taking something to just not feel miserable.

notTooFarGoneyesterday at 11:30 AM

What drove you to write this comment? There are enough countries where sun is an exception in winter and this is a valid problem.

Comment is neither helpful nor is it funny.

Ensorceledyesterday at 12:41 PM

It's going to be sunny this morning, but also -14 and also I'm too far north for adequate Vitamin D synthesis in winter. But thanks for the advice.

xi_studioyesterday at 11:18 AM

Sunlight alone don't help, it helps just because our body makes Vitamin D during the sunbathing process.

So sunbathing is one of many way of integrating Vitamin D in our body not THE way.

zipy124yesterday at 12:52 PM

In most northern countries like the UK, there is simply not enough UVB in the winter to make any Vitamin D through sunlight.

NoPicklezyesterday at 11:14 AM

It could be, but the same effect can be observed in people who dont change their outdoor habits but take vit D and omega 3 supplements