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Darker skins generated much less vitamin D from a single UVB dose – Nov 2013

Skin color is relevant to vitamin D synthesis.

Dermatology. 2013;227(3):250-4. doi: 10.1159/000354750. Epub 2013 Oct 17.
Libon F1, Cavalier E, Nikkels AF.

BACKGROUND: Whether dark skin produces less vitamin D after UVB radiation than fair skin remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)-D] levels after a single UVB exposure in fair (phototype II-III) and black-skinned (phototype VI) volunteers.

METHODS: Fair-skinned volunteers (n = 20, 4 males/16 females, mean age: 23.2 years) and black-skinned (n = 11, 6 males/5 females, mean age: 23.8 years) received a single total body UVB exposure (0.022 J/cm(2)). The 25-(OH)-D levels were measured on days 0, 2 and 6.

RESULTS:
On day 0, all volunteers were severely vitamin D deficient. On day 2, 25-(OH)-D levels of fair-skinned volunteers increased significantly (median: 11.9-13.3 ng/ml, p < 0.0001), but not in black-skinned people (median: 8.60-8.55 ng/ml, p = 0.843). Again, on day 6, 25-(OH)-D levels of fair-skinned volunteers increased significantly (median: 11.9-14.3 ng/ml, p < 0.0001), but not in black-skinned people (median: 8.60-9.57 ng/ml, p = 0.375).

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that skin pigmentation negatively influences vitamin D synthesis.


Response to single dose of UVB by people in their early 20's

Image
PDF is attached at the bottom of this page

Note: fairly weak UVB (0.022 J/cm 2) was used so as to not burn those with very light skin color

See also VitaminDWiki

Attached files

ID Name Comment Uploaded Size Downloads
4268 Darker skin UVB edited.jpg admin 13 Aug, 2014 20.93 Kb 1116
4267 Skin Color Is Relevant to Vitamin D Synthesis.pdf admin 13 Aug, 2014 299.60 Kb 1240