Why ban the sun? Vitamin D deficiency is caused by the lack of exposure to the sun and in the case of African-Americans, they do not absorb the Vitamin D sufficiently, causing more health problems.

This is an important story - many people are low in Vitamin D and don't know it. Lab work can be done to determine if you are low and need supplemental Vitamin D3.

This person was being facetious, an idiot at best.

@MG Exactly right. I found out at my last annual check up that I was very low in Vitamin D. However, my dermatologist told to stay out of the sun after having a spot of basal cell carcinoma removed a couple years back. One of the curses of being white. :( I was taking a multivitamin but after reading the label, it's nowhere near the I.U. that my doctor recommended. So now I take a Vitamin D supplement in addition to the multivitamin.

It's a good idea for ALL people to have their vitamin D levels checked. My doctor simply ran the test when she did my blood-work for my cholesterol and thyroid tests.

DebS, I also had a spot of basal cell carcinoma a few years back. I'm sporting my usual "farmer's tan" as I write this. Sun exposure is one of those darned if you do and darned if you don't things in life. Notice from the story that low vitamin D levels are also associated with melanoma, the deadly skin cancer.

This study applies to all dark skinned people including Caucasians from the Indian sub-continent. It demonstrates that they should make sure their diet contains adequate vitamin D.

Dale, Deb--I was shocked a few years ago to find out that I had virtually no Vitamin D in my system! I mean none, zero. Typically, I avoid the sun because of harmful rays and sun damage. Twice, I've been prescribed large doses of D to build up the level, then told to take a supplement daily. Until the doctor explained this to me, I had no idea that this was an important health factor.

This is stupid. If you're white, you need the Sun for Vitamin D but will get skin cancer. If you're black, you're too dark to get the vitamin D you need in sufficient quantities. Damned if you do, damned if you dont. Guess Asians are just peachy?

It's not true that moderate and reasonable sun exposure causes skin cancer; just don't burn. This idea is promoted to sell sunscreen.

Dude Im Irish, I can be in the sun for 30 minutes and will have a sunburn.

im a little confused, because the studies i've read about Vitamin D suggests that nearly ALL americans (regardless of race) are deficient.

im not poo-pooing vitamin D, it's very imporant and my partner who has Multiple Sclerosis takes it (talk to a doctor or herbal doctor to make sure you are taking the right dosage, as well as other vitamins...as some vitamins actually deplete you of other vitamins...so it's important to make sure you have the right combinations).

rather, I would speculate that STRESS is the reason for the disparity.

the economic disparity alone could account for the stress gap between african americans and everyone else

It's no coincidence that as humans migrated out of Africa, the further they got from the equator, the lighter their skin became. The balance of sunlight is extremely important, as too much damages folate, which can be lethal to fetuses, but too little causes insufficient vitamin D, which is being found more and more to enhance immunity and proper immune function. Natural selection in this case forced the issue - the wrong balance of melanin for the latitude led to decreased reproductive success.

Thought I would come to read some comments that provided more insight. Guess I was wrong. Maybe another day.

D as in "demo" ?

You are right, it doesnt. Its actually the huge amount of melanin in the skin that acts as a natural sunscreen which blocks the uv rays from producing vitamin D in the skin. Same reason blacks dont get skin cancer at the same rates as whites. This vitamin deficiency is also linked to diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, Multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune diseases. The list goes on and on. PS you sound like an uninformed loser.

Always pulling the race card! This does not pertain to racism, its an issue of science.

This is a health article that attempts to explain some of the disparities in chronic illnesses that are poorly understood. The melanin in the skin that acts as a natural sunscreen which blocks the uv rays from producing vitamin D in the skin. Same reason blacks dont get skin cancer at the same rates as whites. This vitamin deficiency is also linked to diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, Multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune diseases. The list goes on and on. You sound like an uninformed loser. . From now on, just shut up when folks of a higher intellect are talking. You clearly do not belong in this conversation.

So everyone in america can have care ? What planet do you live on ? Last time I checked, health care in America was a business, not a right, except for the poor, and the costs ae spiraling out of control. We are all paying millions in taxes all right, but we are not getting any "healthcare" from our government.

chris65,

We are all paying millions in taxes......

B,S. chris, who do you know that is paying millions in taxes ?

You must know some really,really rich people !

@BlackDoc Ah....a voice of reason. well said.

DebS & BlackDoc--You know, those people are really destroying reasonable discussions. The level of hate is unbelievable. Also, they appear to be, well, uneducated.

Why do people always assume that racists are uneducated?? Are people who are "uneducated" REALLY reading the news early in the morning??? For all I know, these people COULD be the medical care provider that I'm going to. I think that is the most troubling thing. The sheer number of people who make jokes about a serious health issue in positions where they have to deal with black people in their profession in my opinion, are just as responsible for this mess as nature is, because their attitudes lead to ACTIONS that harm black people, or preventing black people from getting the help they need.

You are right, TekKnowledge. I stand corrected. But I was referring specifically to the comments on this article that are simply stupid and badly written. Of course, they could be masking their identities to avoid detection.

It is quite troubling. You wonder how many of these people teach children or provide health care...or, perhaps, serve as police officers.

I got news for you.... fat people and old people also have problems making enough vitamin D from the sun. Plus, in any part of the globe away from the equator, the sunlight is too weak to make vitamin D for 5-6 months during the winter.

http://www.antioxidants-for-health-and-longevity.com/causes-of-vitamin-d-deficiency.html

This information is as important for whites as it is for blacks. As a white guy who avoids the sun I wouldn't be surprised to find that I was as deficient of vitamin D as a black guy living in Alaska, (except that a heavy fish diet is also a source if I understand the mechanism.) This article in no way implies racial superiority. Perhaps, writing snarly comments on Newsvine also points to some sort of deficiency and should also be investigated. It seems that we are all in this idiot ride together.

wje37fcsm

This information is as important for whites as it is for blacks

Absolutely. As far as foods containing Vit.D, Yes wild-caught, but not farmed salmon is good.

BlackDoc

This vitamin deficiency is also linked to diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, Multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune diseases. The list goes on and on.

The list does go on and on. l am linking a few links for other readers to learn a little more about the world-wide deficiency of Vit.D/hormone which affects about 200 genes. first one is a short abstract from Pub/Med.gov. and the second is the full article re-directed from there. The third is Vit.D council. All are loaded with good info with the many links on each site.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14985208

http://www.ajcn.org/content/79/3/362.long

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/

you are not the victim of "the Blacks" and their conspiracy to manipulate society!

what a horrible post!

Did they say if it effected memory? (I couldn't resist)

What a stupid statement.

clem Like most of the others here. Sad people.

F..cked up statement, it has to do with socio-economic status, me think. I can find you a whole bunch of rednecks who aren't into salads, yoga, and fruit juices.

Vit D status is VERY well correlated with catching the FLU or not, in the winter (influenza...ie the real flu not a bad cold that people call the flu)

they did studies in nursing homes.

Myself, once I got my Vit D blood level to 62 this year (it takes 5000IU/D in New England...I don't get hardly any sun though) I stopped getting winter colds

ton of stress this year...working with toddlers...yet not a single cold

first time ever.

There is no correlation between pot smoke and these types of cancer.

Any story about blacks or any other minority for that matter gets a lot of racist commenters. Just goes to show we still don't live in a post racial society. And considering only stories about minorities recieve all these racist comments, you know who the racists are. Just calling them as I see them.....

They are taking that into account statistically

Look...they take income, health insurance status, education, location...smoking ALL THOSE factors into account and statistically MANY studies OVER decades have STILL shown that Black people die of these cancers disproportionately.

it is something about being BLACK it seems. Could be how healthcare system Treats black people. BUT then, there are other disease where Black people do not die disproportionate and correlated only to their race.

SINCE Vit D is low in MOST American Blacks, and low VIT D leads to these exact cancers...it is at the very least an INTERESTING correlation.

do you get it now?

You do not sound very scientific. Fat is not the major factor in breast and prostate cancer. There are different types of each and some are genetic. Its multifactorial. This article is stating that both races get the diseases for a variety of reasons, but there is a risk factor that is unaccounted for that exists in blacks and not in whites. This disparity is the skins ability to produce vitamin D from the sun. The darker the skin, the less it makes per unit of time. Black skin was designed for the sun, white skin was not. Same reason that whites are more susceptible to skin cancer. Oh, wait is fat a major risk factor there?

Fat (obesity) is linked with cancer. However, fat in and of itself is not likely the cause. Obesity is strongly linked with a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and less sun exposure. Just because two or more conditions are linked does not mean that there is a cause and effect relationship.

You beat me to it! As I was reading the article, I was thinking the same thing.

Its very interesting how sensitive white and black people are on topics of race. This article has nothing to do with racism, the race card, or the blame game, yet so many white people are finding ways to inject it into the subject matter. This is nobody's fault, its just nature. Why cant it be that simple?

Once you go black, your Vitamin D will go whack!

BlackDoc,

Respectfully, you need to widen your race sensitivity subject group a bit...ALL humans, of ALL colors are sensitive about topics of race.

Humans being a tribal primate, by nature gravitate towards what they perceive as being their "family" group.

Combine that fact with humans also being a visually oriented creature...is it any surprise that folks also tend to gravitate towards those who look like themselves? Especially when there is a perception of threat to whatever the group..i.e. times are tough, therefore it must be THEM that is causing the problem!

Hence, the not so subtle racist & reactionary "take our country back" crap that has been running rampant in this country lately.

This is supposed to be a discussion about Vitamin D, not an analysis of persistent racism. I wonder why those people would even read this article given the obvious hate they are filled with. The article must have provided them with yet another opportunity to conduct klan patrols online, being that they are illegal in the real world.

K-Man,

Yes, all races are sensitive to a degree, but you must admit that a special dynamic exists between white americans and black americans because of the unique history between the two. And the wounds are still fresh. The hatred is intense.

Was he black ?

medina?

So...you're mad that the race card isn't being played?

So...you're mad that the race card isn't being played?

Mad?

More like expecting a cocksucking Jackson/Sharpton worshipper to run der mouth about how Vitamin D dat be hatin on da black man.

"Wurd"

This article does not pertain to racism, yet you want desperately for blacks to pull the race card..funny, because that's exactly what you are doing. Bitter much?

And the lifestyle part is not being cooped up all day indoors during daylight hours. The sun is there for a reason, you know.

BlackDoc, let me ask you a question. We're told constantly that the sun can damage one's skin. A fair-skinned black, I even apply a sun block of 70 SPF when I go outdoors. Now I'm told that I need more sun and that I must take Vit D daily because I barely have ANY in my system. I'm confused about all the opposing advice.

BlueBurner --Most of the research in the past used white people in these studies. Many didnt consider the fact that the needs vary among the races. Most physicians would advise that 15-30 mins a day in the sun is sufficient for Vit D, but that is for fair skin with zero to little melanin. Any pigmented person requires more and the darker the skin, the more time in the sun is needed. Skin cancer is not a problem in Blacks, even though its emphasized in medical schools that even black people should wear sunscreen because there have been cases of blacks with skin cancer. I disagree with this, because not only is it rare, but we really need the sun. When the risk vs benefit is considered, the benefits far outweigh the risks. Im black and Ive never known a black person with skin cancer. However, I know many with the illnesses that have been linked to vitamin deficiency. These include the cancers addressed in the article, autoimmune disease (MS, Lupus), diabetes, hypertension,etc. Black people need to sunbathe. If you ever sunburn, which you likely will not, then cut back. You definitely need the sun, though, which is better than supplements. Supplements are synthetic form of the vitamin that can build up in the fat and could be toxic with overdose. When it's synthesized in the skin via the sun, however, the body has a way of regulating blood levels so that toxic levels never accumulate. Get your vitamin D, BlueBurner!!

You are wrong, this is not a racial issue. You just want it to be. Lemme guess, you are an uneducated individual residing in a trailer park with a confederate flag flying outside your window and lice crawling through your hair..willing to bet my bottom dollar :)

Trifling racists commenting on this article. I guess they'd rather information like this not be published and black people die because of it.

I think you mean IU (international units), but that's what most doctors are now recommending. I take 4000, for various reasons...the big one being that, after my levels did not go up sufficiently at 2000....well!

Not racist, an excellent point. Black skin is an adaptation for the sun. Black Caribbeans and Black Africans who spend time in the sun, not the more Westernized nations like Nigeria, dont have the same health problems we have hear.

Maybe this also includes brains...the ability to stay away from the XBox, eat tons of fatty foods and junk foods, like, say, Skittles and Tea. Also, notice that blacks who exercise are in remarkably good health and those who are careful with their diet, as applies to all races, are not over weight. The crackers have been paying for "it" with trillions of tax dollars going to medicade, food stamps, and free housing.

Wow..Let me guess, you are not anywhere near the healthcare field?

Just as cancer should be treated differently, so should prevention. Thats the point of this article. Black skin was made for the sun, white skin was not. So when black people avoid the sun, there are consequences just as there are when whites get too much of it.