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Published on: September 7, 2013
Skin color is relevant to vitamin D synthesis
F Libon1, E Cavalier, A F Nikkels
1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
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.
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