Factor 50 sun block gave woman rickets (Low vitamin D)

The Daily Mirror ^ | Apr 5, 2010 | Rod Chaytor

[decimon]

Helen Smith, 38, suffered excruciating joint pain and extreme tiredness for almost a decade before doctors realised what was wrong with her.

The mum-of-two had been blocking out the sun's rays - and with it the crucial vitamin D they deliver to maintain healthy bones.

This led to an adult form of rickets - a condition causing bones to become soft and weak normally linked to the child victims of famine.

Fair-skinned Helen said: "I was absolutely staggered when I found the cause of all this had been because I was being too responsible in the sun."

She started to feel ill about 10 years ago, around the time she began applying the sun cream.

Helen added: "I'd get really bad lower back pain which spread to my hips and shoulders. I'd be in terrible pain and unbelievably tired. Some days I couldn't get out of bed.

"If I did make it to my job as a practice nurse I wanted to fall asleep as soon as I got home. My GP referred me to a physiotherapist, thinking I had some muscular problem. But it didn't help.

[mlizzy]

We use this stuff, and the higher SPF works for our fair-skinned Irish kids

[Finny]

Supplements, yes, but not much in food. Vegans would have to go without if not for the sun, according to a quick search I just did. Egg yolk, oily fish (salmon, tuna, sardines), beef liver, cod liver oil. Those were the only foods listed that were non-fortified, natural sources of D. And a person up to about 50 would have to eat about 8 eggs to get what he could get in about half a teaspoon of cod liver oil, if I calculate correctly. Interesting.