Joint Canadian Tanning Association challenges Canadian Cancer Society statement on vitamin D

TORONTO, Oct. 29 /CNW/ - The Canadian Cancer Society's press statement this morning urging Canadians to take vitamin D supplements but to avoid sunlight and indoor tanning equipment as a vitamin D source contained misinformation about vitamin D.

According to www.D-action.org -- a consortium of most of the world's leading vitamin D researchers -- vitamin D recommendations should be based on knowing one's vitamin D blood levels. The D-action group recommends:

    -   100-150 nmol/L vitamin D blood levels
    -   2,000 IU/day to maintain those levels

    It's called "The Sunshine Vitamin" for a reason. Consider:

    -   You cannot get 2,000 IU naturally from diet. Whole milk is
        supplemented with just 100 IU in an 8-ounce glass -- 100 times less
        than what is made in the skin in one indoor tanning session.
    -   Indoor tanners' average vitamin D levels are 100-150 nmol/L,
        according to Boston University research - sufficient levels, and 90
        percent higher than the rest of the population. In contrast, a recent
        Australian study revealed that dermatologists at the end of summer,
        when vitamin D levels should be their highest, are severely vitamin D
        deficient at just 35 nmol/L.

Because 97 percent of Canadians are vitamin D deficient according to University of Calgary research, the Joint Canadian Tanning Association urges everyone to get a calcidiol blood test to most accurately gauge their vitamin D status.

For further information: Doug McNabb, President, Joint Canadian Tanning Association, (403) 640-2100, McNabb@fabutan.com