The absolutely best way to get vitamin D is through ultraviolet B radiation, and temporary sunlight exposure at the right time of day is the easy way to achieve this. Have you tried this before going the supplement route?
EDIT: Sorry, missed your last post. Sounds like a good plan. To get the most out of your sunlight exposure and avoid the negatives, Wikipedia (
http://en.wikipedia....of_sun_exposure ) says:
Synthesis of vitamin D3Ultraviolet (UV) B radiation with a wavelength of 290-315 nanometers penetrates uncovered skin and converts cutaneous
7-dehydrocholesterol to
previtamin D3, which in turn becomes
vitamin D3.
[8][9][10] Season, geographic latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, skin
melanin content, and sunscreen are among the factors that affect UV radiation exposure and vitamin D synthesis.
[10] The UV energy above 42 degrees north latitude (a line approximately between the northern border of California and Boston) is insufficient for cutaneous vitamin D synthesis from November through February;
[11] in far northern latitudes, this reduced intensity lasts for up to 6 months. In the United States, latitudes below 34 degrees north (a line between Los Angeles and Columbia, South Carolina) allow for cutaneous production of vitamin D throughout the year.
[12]Complete cloud cover reduces UV energy by 50%; shade (including that produced by severe pollution) reduces it by 60%.
[13] UVB radiation does not penetrate glass, so exposure to sunshine indoors through a window does not produce vitamin D.
[14] Sunscreens with a sun protection factor of 8 or more appear to block vitamin D-producing UV rays, although in practice people generally do not apply sufficient amounts, cover all sun-exposed skin, or reapply sunscreen regularly.
[15] Skin likely synthesizes some vitamin D even when it is protected by sunscreen as typically applied.
[2]The factors that affect UV radiation exposure and research to date on the amount of sun exposure needed to maintain adequate vitamin D levels make it difficult to provide general guidelines. It has been suggested by some vitamin D researchers, for example, that approximately 5–30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM at least twice a week to the face, arms, legs, or back without sunscreen usually lead to sufficient vitamin D synthesis and that the moderate use of commercial
tanning beds that emit 2%-6% UVB radiation also is effective.
[10][16] Individuals with limited sun exposure need to include good sources of vitamin D in their diet or take a supplement.
Edited by Godof Smallthings, 14 February 2013 - 09:45 AM.
