Vitamin D, which the body can get from exposure to ultraviolet-B light, some foods and dietary supplements, is considered essential for healthy bones and preventing chronic health conditions. Tanning salons say that one of the benefits of indoor tanning is getting vitamin D from UVB rays.
Dr. Michael Holick, author of the book “The UV Advantage,” says he doesn’t advocate tanning but notes that tanning beds “represent a viable alternative” to sunshine for stimulating one’s vitamin D production.
Holick, a professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at the Boston University School of Medicine, said if people want to use a tanning salon, they should put sun protection on their faces and tan for half the time recommended for their skin type.
Dr. Robert Heaney, a professor of medicine at Creighton University and a leading researcher on calcium and vitamin D, said dietary supplements “are the safest, most convenient and most effective” ways to get vitamin D. A tanning bed “is certainly one way to get vitamin D,” Heaney said but noted, “If there’s a skin cancer concern (from tanning beds), I’m as concerned about it as anyone.”
Holick and Heaney said most people get too little vitamin D, especially in the winter. Heaney said adults who take a multivitamin providing 400 International Units of vitamin D per day could take an additional 15,000 IUs of D per week without getting too much. — Bob Glissmann
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
