Exposure to Sun May Help Ward Off Arthritis

April 29, 2008 - Press Dispensary - We often read of the dangers of over-exposure to the sun, but avoiding it completely can lead to arthritis, according to The Arthritic Association (http://www.arthriticassociation.org.uk) . The national arthritis charity warns that sunshine is crucial for the body to produce vitamin D which is required to ward off degenerative conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis.

Earlier this year, James E. Dowd, an American rheumatologist, published details of his use of vitamin D in treating arthritic patients. However, The Arthritic Association states that supplementation alone is not the answer.

“The body needs sunshine in order to synthesise the vitamin D required for optimum health,” explains The Arthritic Association’s John Wedlake-Griffiths. “Although you could take a vitamin D supplement, it’s easy to overdose, and that can be counter-productive. So moderate exposure to sunlight is better – for example, earlier or later in the day, for short periods of time.”

Vitamin D plays an active role in the absorption of calcium. The National Osteoporosis Society advises that low levels of vitamin D are associated with the development of osteoporosis, and a recent study linked low levels of vitamin D to Type 1 diabetes. The indications are that the body's immune system is more robust when we are exposed to sunlight, but weakened when over-exposed.

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Notes for editors
ABOUT THE ARTHRITIC ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1942, The Arthritic Association (www.arthriticassociation.org.uk) is a registered charity dedicated to helping relieve people from the pain of arthritis through natural methods.


REFERENCES
'The Vitamin D Cure' James Dowd, Wiley, 2008

'Vitamin D Supplementation in Early Childhood and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', Archives of Disease in Childhood, March 2008

National Osteoporosis Society Information Sheet:
http://www.nos.org.uk/dr_media/nos/Vitamin_D_28-Apr-08.pdf

'Vitamin D reduces risk of type 1 diabetes' (UCL Institute of Child Health)
http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/pressoffice/pressrelease_00108

Centre for Air Transport and the Environment information programme:
http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Ozone_Depletion/Older/Immune_System.html
Over-exposure to UV radiation can lead to weakness in the immune system.

For further information, please contact:
Ian Sketchley, secretary and treasurer, The Arthritic Association
Tel: 01323 433 770/777 / 07940 802875
Email:
Site: www.arthriticassociation.org.uk