--in some amounts in body fat.

Since Vitamin D is made in skin through sunlight activation, it can be classified as a hormone, but for convention's sake we still generally talk about it as a vitamin.

What is really stored in large amounts is the Vitamin D precursor--calciferol-- that is activated by sunlight. There is a complicated feedback mechansim that shuts off the D-production process from calciferol after about 20-30 minutes of direct sunlight--just about the time most people of mid-range complexions start to pink (this reddening is a direct indicator the body has absorbed enough ultraviolet light for the manufacturing of D--exposure BEYOND that gets more dangerous as regards skin cancers). In fact, many experts are now saying that people should absolutely be getting more sun exposure than they've been, as direct sun exposure is hard to come by except for people in low latitudes during noontime (people who have evolved in such places have darker skin to keep this balance--in fact, pale skin is considered a benevolent mutation to allow people at higher latitudes to make more Vitamin D), especially during winter months.

It does seem as if our tendency to stay indoors, slather on sunscreen, and not update the minimum daily requirements for dietary ingestion of Vitamin D in such circumstances is contributing to a very large number of D-deficienct people in the developed world.

Ted Hutchinson over at Braintalk has ammassed an enormous database of material--studies, monogarphs, clinical reports--to this effect, analagous to what Cara (jccglutenfree) has done with gluten:

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/...ead.php?t=2822

(I've got to see if I can get him to post over here--there was a bit of controversy when he tried some time ago--perhaps a talk with the Mods . . .)

One of the most important things it reveals is that our supplements should be the much more efficient bodily-produced D3 (cholecalciferol) form rather than the synthetic D2 (ergocalciferol) available at most stores. This situation is reminiscent of the cyanocobalamin/methylcobalamin contrast with B12. (D3 is now becoming increasingly available.)

But Glen i'm so fair I always got burned,even with sunscreen so forth,
I wear gaue like clothes which helped. But with the high doses of
meds. I really burn..

Mel I can still smell noxzema,can;t you???We would go boating often because
we lived in Mi. with Lake St. Clair right behind us..I was the only TomBoy
on the boat forced to wear a head scarf..But my mom still had to
put noxzema in my hair,or on my head it would be burned..I did talk
her into wearning my brothers ballcap,he was dark...But mom kept yelling
cheerleaders don't wear ballcaps,I did a sunburned head hurts..lol I
miss those days to,,I sure felt better ha,wonder why they thought that
smell and name would be a big seller...Guess it was cheap and the only
thing my mom would buy...

That Ted was interesting he came on and was gone,he sure could write fast.
I hope I can go home tommorow every 2 days same food and same tests.

Roxie just make sure you keep a eye on the Vit D but if it worries you
call the nurse if she doesnt know request the Dr. call..Then be prepareed
to sit by the phone until he calls. Well shoot, Hugs to all Sue

from a cholesterol precursor. I wouldn't expect that to work properly if you take
statins to lower cholesterol.
It is thought that as we age the skin synthesis may fail, like many other things do. (ie. retire).

The 50,000IU RX the doctor gives (the green football cap) is D2 and not as effective.
Doctors don't seem to understand the difference yet (if ever)

Hi - I know this is unrelated to the thread but I too remember using Noxzema when I was a teenager!

I have been purchasing a product sold on Ebay for the burning in my feet from PN and it smells a little like that. It has lots of wonderful ingredients, all kinds of butters and peppermint and blue emu oil. I pay quite a lot for not a lot of cream. So - I bought some Noxzema (yes, it's still out there). I thought it might help the burning in my feet - but it didn't. I guess I'll stick to the pricey stuff.

Bye, Cheryl