The effect of regular sunscreen use on vitamin D levels in an Australian population. Results of a randomized controlled trial

Personal Sun Exposure and Serum 25‐hydroxy Vitamin D Concentrations

“…Melanin in skin may influence serum 25(OH)D levels by reducing availability of vitamin D3 for 25(OH)D synthesis (13). However, our sun sensitivity score, which combined skin color and skin response to sunlight, showed little evidence of an association with serum 25(OH)D levels, consistently with other recent findings (23,24). Our measure of clothing coverage when in the sun was significantly associated with serum 25(OH)D levels, although only in women.…”

Sun protective behaviors and vitamin D levels in the US population: NHANES 2003–2006

“…Our findings add to the literature by providing further detail on the specific types of sun protective behaviors that impact vitamin D, and the racial groups in which they are significant. Our findings on sunscreen use are also consistent with prior studies in Australian whites showing that sunscreen as used by the general population does not cause lower 25(OH)D levels [22, 33, 34]. Despite the fact that sunscreens can block UV-induced vitamin D synthesis in strictly controlled conditions [21], we found that frequent sunscreen use was not related to lower 25(OH)D levels.…”

Vitamin D Status of Adults from Tropical Australia Determined Using Two Different Laboratory Assays: Implications for Public Health Messages

“…The use of sun protection (hats, sunscreen, long sleeved shirts and trousers) during the previous month, did not reduce the 25(OH)D status of the people in this study. Two previous studies have found similar results for sunscreen use (23,32) which contrasted with the results of another study (33).…”