Hello,

One approach to vitamin D deficiency is to use safe sun exposure. Here is a link to a thread to place this into context:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread41845.html

Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer; too little can cause vitamin D deficiency.

This raises the question:

What time of day is it safe for sun exposure in my location?

I have considered two solutions to this problem:

1. Use a chart to predict the safe time to go out
2. Use a UV meter to measure the UV level

Here I will consider the first approach; using a chart.

Some weather services provide a forecast chart for UV Index. Here is a link to our Bureau of Meteorology, in Australia:

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/UV/Su...oast_QLD.shtml

A similar service is provided by Intellicast.

I found two problems with the charts provided by these services:

1. The resolution is not very good because the chart is very small
2. The max UV Index on the chart is often not updated to the most recent forecast

The maximum forecast UV Index is available for most locations; this can be used, with sunrise and sunset times, to make a chart to give UV Index at any time of the day.

Last September, after I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, I tried to make a chart that was easier to read and that I could adjust for the most recent forecast maximum UV Index, and local sunrise and sunset times. I had to put the idea aside because of technical problems, and my own health issues. The recent post by Monica, on the thread mentioned above, encouraged me to revisit the problem.

I have finally produced a chart, using Microsoft Excel, which will allow you to find the time of day that you can be safely out in the sun.

You are welcome to download the file from my web site; URL at the end of this message. From the Index page, select the link for Vitamin D deficiency; this will take you to the Vitamin D Deficiency Home Page, which is still a construction site. From there, select the UV Index Chart link in the menu on the left. You can then download the Excel file from a link on the page.

There are instructions provided on a sheet in the file; please read these completely before trying to use the chart. It is essential that the maximum forecast UV Index be correct. Any errors in sunrise and sunset times will cause a similar error in the times for safe sun exposure.

Please let me know if you have any problems downloading or using the chart.

Paul

Thank you Paul. Very nice of you helping us! I will check it right now.

I was trying to check, but i cant find the Vitamin d in the index in your site, where is it???

Hello Monica,

I had to remove the UV Index Chart file from my web site. If you would like a copy, please send me an Email from the Contact page of my web site. I will then send you a reply, with a copy of the file as an attachment.

Paul