Orkney study sheds light on diseases

RESEARCHERS from Edinburgh University have recruited islanders to take part in a study of how sunlight affects health.

More than 2000 people in Orkney have agreed to have their levels of vitamin D assessed to see if there are links between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis.

The North Sea island has the highest rate of the debilitating disease in the world.

Dr Jim Wilson, the project leader, said: "It has been known for a long time that vitamin D is important in bone health, but it looks like it might also be important in diabetes, multiple sclerosis, some cancers and heart disease.

"In Scotland, there is not enough UVB radiation to make any vitamin D at all during the winter months and the cloudy Scottish summer often blocks much of the UVB from the sun."