Scotland deprived of nearly a month’s worth of UV rays

Scots were deprived of nearly a month’s worth of UV rays high enough for the body to produce vitamin D, compared to those living down south, research showed.

Scotland has been missing out on the 'sunshine vitamin'. Picture: TSPL

Residents of Stirling were found to be most lacking in ‘the sunshine vitamin’ this February, according to experts.

Scientists from the University of Manchester considered factors including available amounts of vitamin D-effective UVB rays, cloud cover, ozone and aerosol levels.

Last year people living in the south of England are thought to have enjoyed around 28 more days when UV rays were high enough for the body to make a useful amount of vitamin D, when compared to Scotland.

Stirling is predicted to have the lowest levels of vitamin D in the whole of Britain this month.

According to the NHS, vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, and is needed to help keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

Combining the data, experts worked with Boots Vitamins to create a ‘Vitamin D Projection Map’, which shows the areas of the country whose vitamin D levels will likely be at their lowest now.

Ann Webb, Professor of atmospheric radiation at the University of Manchester, said: “The analysis we have done for the UK in 2018 confirms the overall trend that UVB in sunlight decreases the further north you go - this will have a direct impact on the ability to make vitamin D of the population at each location.

“There are many other factors that influence each individual’s circulating 25OHD, which determines vitamin D status.

“These include the amount of time a person spends in the sun, the colour of their skin and the amount of skin exposed, but the single greatest source of the vitamin for almost all of us comes from exposure to UVB in sunlight.”

Boots Vitamins undertook the research in a bid to make the nation aware about the importance of vitamin D, after studies showed one in five adults and one sixth of children have low levels.

Although human bodies can store vitamin D accumulated over the summer, research indicates that these stores are not sufficient and health conditions affecting bones and muscles are on the rise.

To brighten up Stirling, which only enjoys 38 per cent of the vitamin D-effective UVB of popular Spanish sunshine resort Marbella, Boots Vitamins brought sands and palm trees to the city to brighten up the winter weather.

Against a grey backdrop, the pop-up beach provided locals with a winter pick-me-up, including vitamin D supplements, to help get them through the final weeks of winter.

Passerby Ross Drummond, 32, said: “It’s nice. It’s definitely an escape from the cold we’re having right now. It’s probably been years since I went to the beach, so this is great.”

“It’s not surprising Stirling was found to have the lowest levels of vitamin D. It’s always dark and dank here, we don’t see enough of the sunshine.”

Boots Vitamins’ spokesperson Parminder Kaur added: “We understand that we all need vitamin D to allow us to absorb calcium, to help keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy, and a lack of it can lead to poor bone development.

“Bone density develops from birth and reaches its peak at 30 years old; from then on you cannot build up more density.

“While vitamin D is found in small amounts in certain foods such as oily fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines, and red meat and egg yolks, it is difficult for us to get the recommended amount of vitamin D from food alone, particularly during the autumn and winter months.

“This is why it is recommended by the Department of Health to consider taking a 10mcg daily supplement.”