ETS Tanning Bed Blog

Vitamin D is critical to our health. It helps us build strong bones, absorb calcium, and ward off diseases. But are we getting enough of this wonder vitamin and how do we know?

Finding Your Optimal Vitamin D Level

Your optimal vitamin D level depends on a number of factors, including your age, weight, skin color and even surrounding environmental factors.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should be getting 400 IUs (international units) of vitamin D per day as a way of achieving healthy bone development during a period of growth. The National Institutes of Health has also released this chart, breaking down optimal vitamin D consumption by various age groups (assuming the individual is not receiving vitamin D from sunlight exposure):

 

 Adequate Intakes (AIs) for Vitamin D*

Age	Children	Men	Women	Pregnancy	Lactation
Birth to 13 years	5 mcg (400 IU)
14-18 years		5 mcg (200 IU)	5 mcg (200 IU)	5 mcg (200 IU)	5 mcg (200 IU)
19-50 years		5 mcg (200 IU)	5 mcg (200 IU)	5 mcg (200 IU)	5 mcg (200 IU)
51-70 years		10 mcg (400 IU)	10 mcg (400 IU)
71+ years		15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)

                   
                   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Source: National Institutes of Health: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp

People at risk for vitamin D deficiency include older adults, people with fat malabsorption, people who are obese, people with darker skin and people with limited amounts of sun exposure.

You see, your body can make its own vitamin D simply by converting the sun's ultraviolet rays.  In fact, it's the most efficient way of obtaining the vitamin. If you live in a sunny climate, you probably don't have to worry too much about your dietary vitamin D intake. On the other hand, a gray winter in the Pacific Northwest could leave you starving for it.

For those of us who either don't have access to unlimited sunshine or simply don't have the time to lounge out in the sun every day, indoor tanning provides the same access to valuable UV-B rays in a short, concentrated burst.

To learn more about indoor tanning and vitamin D, check out our other recent vitamin D post: Why Is Vitamin D Important for our Bodies? [insert link to post] />