Press reports about vitamin D research are starting to figure out that the amount of vitamin D people need can only be satisfied naturally through regular sun exposure — with some recommendations now suggesting humans need 10 times more “sunshine vitamin” than old recommendations suggested.

The Newport News, Va. Daily Press reported this weekend that “Adults might need 10 times more vitamin D,” citing reports from vitamin D researchers. “As many as half of Americans, middle-age and older, are believed to get an inadequate amount of vitamin D,” The Daily News reported, quoting noted vitamin D researcher Dr. Anthony Norman of the University of Calfornia-Riverside. “That’s quite sobering and it really says we’ve got to do better with vitamin D nutrition,” Norman said in the article.

The story continued, “Vitamin D is commonly referred to as the sunshine vitamin, because our bodies make it when we are exposed to the sun. In northern climes, however, the sun isn’t strong enough in the winter months. In the summer months, just 10 to 15 minutes a day would provide enough vitamin D, but fear of skin cancer means many people are wearing sunscreen when they go out, which blocks the beneficial rays.”