Solar D enables increased cutaneous vitamin D formation and maintains sun protection
FRIDAY, Feb. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A novel sunscreen, Solar D, has been designed which can maximize vitamin D production while maintaining its sun protection effect for reducing erythema risk, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in PLOS ONE.
Noting that strict adherence to ultraviolet (UV) protection promotes vitamin D deficiency, Dieter Kockott, from UV-Technik in Hanau, Germany, and colleagues present a calculation method for optimizing the ratio of the effective radiation dose responsible for formation of previtamin D in the skin/protection against erythemal radiation. The experimental sunscreen Solar D was designed with compounds with differing filter compositions to maximize vitamin D production, while maintaining sun protection. The authors compared Solar D, which is rated as an SPF 15, with a commercial sunscreen with SPF 15.
The researchers observed a significant increase of the conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D on exposure to artificial solar radiation with Solar D compared with commercial sunscreen with the same SPF.
“Based on our previous observations, the in vitro results can be directly translated to what would be expected when the sunscreens are used on human skin,” the authors write. “Therefore we have proof of principal that a sunscreen can be produced for optimizing previtamin D3 production while retaining its sun protection factor for reducing erythema.”
The study was funded by Nexdius, which manufactures Solar D; one author is employed by BASF Grenzach.
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