Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia

Fahad Alamri; Fahad Alshahrani; Yousef Al-Saleh; Mohammed Yehia Saeedi; Mussa Hussein Almalki; Nasser Al-Daghri; Abdulallah Alzahrani; Michael Holick; Ahmed Khair Ibrahim

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14

Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia

Fahad Alamri, Fahad Alshahrani, Yousef Al-Saleh, Mohammed Yehia Saeedi, Mussa Hussein Almalki, Nasser Al-Daghri, Abdulallah Alzahrani, Michael Holick, Ahmed Khair Ibrahim

Published in European Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 7 August 2015 Accepted: 15 August 2015 Published: 7 September 2015

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Vitamin deficiency is considered to be a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia, especially during summer. The major source of vitamin D is sun exposure. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimum time for sun exposure in four different cities (North, South, West and East regions) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the current study ampoules containing 7-dehydrocholesterol in ethanol were exposed to sunlight every hour starting from sunrise until sunset in June 2013. Results indicated that the geographical location and the time of the day have a major influence in vitamin D production. In summer, conversion of pre-vitamin D3 was observed to be elevated between 8.00-9.00 AM to 3:30-4:30 PM, with peak hours between 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Moreover in the east region (Dammam), conversion of pre-vitamin D3 showed significant reduction by around 50%. In conclusion, the optimum sun exposure time for vitamin D3 production in the north, south and west regions of Saudi Arabia during summer is from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, as well as 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.Air pollution might be the cause for the decreased conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre-vitamin D3 in the east region. Conservatively, the optimum time for sun exposure therefore in Dammam city is from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM, as well as 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Knowledge of the optimum sun exposure times during summer can be highly effective in preventing vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia.

Published in	European Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14
Page(s)	147-154
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vitamin D, Sunlight Exposure, Optimum Times, Saudi Arabia

References

[1]	DeLuca H. Overview of general physiologic features and functions of vitamin D. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2004;80(6 ):1689S-96S.
[2]	Mawer E, Hayes M, Heys S, Davies M, White A, Stewart M, et al. Constitutive synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by a human small cell lung cancer cell line. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994;79(2):554-60.
[3]	Schwartz G, Whitlatch L, Chen T, Lokeshwar B, Holick M. Human prostate cells synthesize 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 from 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1998;7(5):391-5.
[4]	Bener A, Al-Ali M, Hoffmann G. High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in young children in a highly sunny humid country: a global health problem. Minerva Pediatr. 2009;61(1):15-22.
[5]	Bodnar L, Simhan H, Powers R, Frank M, Cooperstein E, Roberts J. High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in black and white pregnant women residing in the northern United States and their neonates. J Nutr. 2007;137(2):447-52.
[6]	Chapuy M, Preziosi P, Maamer M, Arnaud S, Galan P, Hercberg S, et al. Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency in an Adult Normal Population Osteoporos Int 1997;7(1):439-43.
[7]	Gordon C, DePeter K, Feldman H, Grace E, Emans J. Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Healthy Adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;158(6):531-7.
[8]	Roth D, Martz P, Yeo R, Prosser C, Bell M, Jones A. Are national vitamin D guidelines sufficient to maintain adequate blood levels in children? Can J Public Health. 2005;96(6):443-9.
[9]	Rucker D, Allan J, Fick G, Hanley D. Vitamin D insufficiency in a population of healthy western Canadians. CMAJ. 2002;166(12):1517-24.
[10]	Al-Daghri N, Al-Attas O, Al-Okail M, Alkharfy K, Al-Yousef M, Nadhrah H, et al. Severe hypovitaminosis D is widespread and more common in non-diabetics than diabetics in Saudi adults. Saudi Med J. 2010;31(7):775-80.
[11]	Al-Daghri N, Al-Attas O, Alokail M, Alkharfy K, Yousef M, Nadhrah H, et al. Hypovitaminosis D and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Non-obese Youth. Cent Eur J Med. 2010;5(6):752-7.
[12]	Ardawi M, Sibiany A, Bakhsh T, Qari M, Maimani A. High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy Saudi Arabian men: relationship to bone mineral density, parathyroid hormone, bone turnover markers, and lifestyle factors. Osteoporos Int. 2012;23(2):675-86.
[13]	Elsammak M, Al-Wosaibi A, Al-Howeish A, Alsaeed J. Vitamin d deficiency in Saudi Arabs. Horm Metab Res. 2010;42(5):364-8.
[14]	Cannell J, Hollis B, Zasloff M, Heaney R. Diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficiency. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2008;9(1):1-12.
[15]	Holick M. Vitamin D: A millenium perspective. Journal of cellular biochemistry. 2003;88(2):296-307.
[16]	Holick M, MacLaughlin J, Clark M, Holick S, Potts J, Anderson R, et al. Photosynthesis of previtamin D3 in human skin and the physiologic consequences. Science. 1980;210(4466):203-5.
[17]	Holick M, Tian X, Allen M. Evolutionary importance for the membrane enhancement of the production of vitamin D3 in the skin of poikilothermic animals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995;92(8):3124-6.
[18]	Whyte M, Haddad J, Walters D, Stamp T. Vitamin D bioavailability: serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in man after oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous vitamin D administration. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1979;48(6):906-11.
[19]	Holick M. Photosynthesis of vitamin D in the skin: effect of environmental and life-style variables. Fed Proc. 1987;46(5):1876-82.
[20]	Chen T. Photobiology of Vitamin D. In: Holick M, editor. Vitamin D. Nutrition and Health. 1: Humana Press; 2010. p. 35-60.
[21]	Pener B. Spectral intensity of natural UVR and its dependence on various parameters. In: Urbach F, editor. The Biologic effects of ultraviolet radiation,: With emphasis on the skin Oxford and New York: Pergamon Press; 1969. p. 351-8.
[22]	Webb A, Kline L, Holick M. Influence of season and latitude on the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3: exposure to winter sunlight in Boston and Edmonton will not promote vitamin D3 synthesis in human skin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988;67(2):373-8.
[23]	Al-Daghri N, Al-Attas O, Alokail M, Alkharfy K, El-Kholie E, Yousef M, et al. Increased vitamin D supplementation recommended during summer season in the gulf region: a counterintuitive seasonal effect in vitamin D levels in adult, overweight and obese Middle Eastern residents. Clinical Endocrinology. 2012;76(3):346-50.
[24]	Alshahrani F, Almalki M, Aljohani N, Alzahrani A, Alsaleh Y, Holick M. Vitamin D: Light side and best time of sunshine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dermatoendocrinol. 2013;5(1):177-80.
[25]	Holick M, Chen T, Lu Z, Sauter E. Vitamin D and skin physiology: a D-lightful story. J Bone Miner Res. 2007;22(7):V28-33.
[26]	Holick M. Shedding new light on the role of the sunshine vitamin D for skin health: the lncRNA-skin cancer connection. Experimental Dermatology. 2014;23(6):391-2.
[27]	Hannan M, Paul M, Amer M, Al-Watban F. Study of ultraviolet radiation and genotoxic effects of natural sunlight in relation to skin cancer in Saudi Arabia. Cancer Res. 1984;44(5):2192-7.
[28]	Holick M. Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80(6):1678s-88s.
[29]	Holick M. Vitamin D: the underappreciated D-lightful hormone that is important for skeletal and cellular health. Current Opinion in Endocrinology Diabetes and Obesity. 2002;9(1):87-98.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Fahad Alamri, Fahad Alshahrani, Yousef Al-Saleh, Mohammed Yehia Saeedi, Mussa Hussein Almalki, et al. (2015). Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3(5), 147-154. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Fahad Alamri; Fahad Alshahrani; Yousef Al-Saleh; Mohammed Yehia Saeedi; Mussa Hussein Almalki, et al. Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia. Eur. J. Prev. Med. 2015, 3(5), 147-154. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Fahad Alamri, Fahad Alshahrani, Yousef Al-Saleh, Mohammed Yehia Saeedi, Mussa Hussein Almalki, et al. Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia. Eur J Prev Med. 2015;3(5):147-154. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14,
  author = {Fahad Alamri and Fahad Alshahrani and Yousef Al-Saleh and Mohammed Yehia Saeedi and Mussa Hussein Almalki and Nasser Al-Daghri and Abdulallah Alzahrani and Michael Holick and Ahmed Khair Ibrahim},
  title = {Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia},
  journal = {European Journal of Preventive Medicine},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {147-154},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejpm.20150305.14},
  abstract = {Vitamin deficiency is considered to be a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia, especially during summer. The major source of vitamin D is sun exposure. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimum time for sun exposure in four different cities (North, South, West and East regions) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the current study ampoules containing 7-dehydrocholesterol in ethanol were exposed to sunlight every hour starting from sunrise until sunset in June 2013. Results indicated that the geographical location and the time of the day have a major influence in vitamin D production. In summer, conversion of pre-vitamin D3 was observed to be elevated between 8.00-9.00 AM to 3:30-4:30 PM, with peak hours between 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Moreover in the east region (Dammam), conversion of pre-vitamin D3 showed significant reduction by around 50%. In conclusion, the optimum sun exposure time for vitamin D3 production in the north, south and west regions of Saudi Arabia during summer is from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, as well as 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.Air pollution might be the cause for the decreased conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre-vitamin D3 in the east region. Conservatively, the optimum time for sun exposure therefore in Dammam city is from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM, as well as 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Knowledge of the optimum sun exposure times during summer can be highly effective in preventing vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia
AU  - Fahad Alamri
AU  - Fahad Alshahrani
AU  - Yousef Al-Saleh
AU  - Mohammed Yehia Saeedi
AU  - Mussa Hussein Almalki
AU  - Nasser Al-Daghri
AU  - Abdulallah Alzahrani
AU  - Michael Holick
AU  - Ahmed Khair Ibrahim
Y1  - 2015/09/07
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14
T2  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
JO  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
SP  - 147
EP  - 154
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8230
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14
AB  - Vitamin deficiency is considered to be a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia, especially during summer. The major source of vitamin D is sun exposure. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimum time for sun exposure in four different cities (North, South, West and East regions) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the current study ampoules containing 7-dehydrocholesterol in ethanol were exposed to sunlight every hour starting from sunrise until sunset in June 2013. Results indicated that the geographical location and the time of the day have a major influence in vitamin D production. In summer, conversion of pre-vitamin D3 was observed to be elevated between 8.00-9.00 AM to 3:30-4:30 PM, with peak hours between 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Moreover in the east region (Dammam), conversion of pre-vitamin D3 showed significant reduction by around 50%. In conclusion, the optimum sun exposure time for vitamin D3 production in the north, south and west regions of Saudi Arabia during summer is from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, as well as 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.Air pollution might be the cause for the decreased conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre-vitamin D3 in the east region. Conservatively, the optimum time for sun exposure therefore in Dammam city is from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM, as well as 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Knowledge of the optimum sun exposure times during summer can be highly effective in preventing vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Fahad Alamri

Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Non-communicable Disease Directorate, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Fahad Alshahrani

Family Medicine Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Faculty of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, College of Science, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Yousef Al-Saleh

Faculty of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Yehia Saeedi

Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Non-communicable Disease Directorate, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Mussa Hussein Almalki

Specialized Diabetes and Endocrine Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Faculty of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Nasser Al-Daghri

Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, College of Science, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Abdulallah Alzahrani

Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, College of Science, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Michael Holick

Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Diabetes, Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, USA
Ahmed Khair Ibrahim

Community Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Asyut, Egypt

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Fahad Alamri, Fahad Alshahrani, Yousef Al-Saleh, Mohammed Yehia Saeedi, Mussa Hussein Almalki, et al. (2015). Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3(5), 147-154. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Fahad Alamri; Fahad Alshahrani; Yousef Al-Saleh; Mohammed Yehia Saeedi; Mussa Hussein Almalki, et al. Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia. Eur. J. Prev. Med. 2015, 3(5), 147-154. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Fahad Alamri, Fahad Alshahrani, Yousef Al-Saleh, Mohammed Yehia Saeedi, Mussa Hussein Almalki, et al. Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia. Eur J Prev Med. 2015;3(5):147-154. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14,
  author = {Fahad Alamri and Fahad Alshahrani and Yousef Al-Saleh and Mohammed Yehia Saeedi and Mussa Hussein Almalki and Nasser Al-Daghri and Abdulallah Alzahrani and Michael Holick and Ahmed Khair Ibrahim},
  title = {Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia},
  journal = {European Journal of Preventive Medicine},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {147-154},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejpm.20150305.14},
  abstract = {Vitamin deficiency is considered to be a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia, especially during summer. The major source of vitamin D is sun exposure. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimum time for sun exposure in four different cities (North, South, West and East regions) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the current study ampoules containing 7-dehydrocholesterol in ethanol were exposed to sunlight every hour starting from sunrise until sunset in June 2013. Results indicated that the geographical location and the time of the day have a major influence in vitamin D production. In summer, conversion of pre-vitamin D3 was observed to be elevated between 8.00-9.00 AM to 3:30-4:30 PM, with peak hours between 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Moreover in the east region (Dammam), conversion of pre-vitamin D3 showed significant reduction by around 50%. In conclusion, the optimum sun exposure time for vitamin D3 production in the north, south and west regions of Saudi Arabia during summer is from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, as well as 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.Air pollution might be the cause for the decreased conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre-vitamin D3 in the east region. Conservatively, the optimum time for sun exposure therefore in Dammam city is from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM, as well as 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Knowledge of the optimum sun exposure times during summer can be highly effective in preventing vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Optimum Sun Exposure Times for Vitamin D Status Correction in Saudi Arabia
AU  - Fahad Alamri
AU  - Fahad Alshahrani
AU  - Yousef Al-Saleh
AU  - Mohammed Yehia Saeedi
AU  - Mussa Hussein Almalki
AU  - Nasser Al-Daghri
AU  - Abdulallah Alzahrani
AU  - Michael Holick
AU  - Ahmed Khair Ibrahim
Y1  - 2015/09/07
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14
T2  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
JO  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
SP  - 147
EP  - 154
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8230
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150305.14
AB  - Vitamin deficiency is considered to be a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia, especially during summer. The major source of vitamin D is sun exposure. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimum time for sun exposure in four different cities (North, South, West and East regions) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the current study ampoules containing 7-dehydrocholesterol in ethanol were exposed to sunlight every hour starting from sunrise until sunset in June 2013. Results indicated that the geographical location and the time of the day have a major influence in vitamin D production. In summer, conversion of pre-vitamin D3 was observed to be elevated between 8.00-9.00 AM to 3:30-4:30 PM, with peak hours between 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Moreover in the east region (Dammam), conversion of pre-vitamin D3 showed significant reduction by around 50%. In conclusion, the optimum sun exposure time for vitamin D3 production in the north, south and west regions of Saudi Arabia during summer is from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, as well as 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.Air pollution might be the cause for the decreased conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre-vitamin D3 in the east region. Conservatively, the optimum time for sun exposure therefore in Dammam city is from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM, as well as 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Knowledge of the optimum sun exposure times during summer can be highly effective in preventing vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download