Sunbed users have 90 percent higher vitamin D blood levels than the general population, according to a Boston University study. But chances are, most don\u2019t actually know what their vitamin D level is. Do you?<\/p>\n
![\"2011-04-05](\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/2011-04-05-Do-You-Know-Your-Vitamin-D-Level-copy.jpg\" "\\"2011-04-05")
\u201cVitamin D is \u2018The Sunshine Vitamin\u2019 \u2014 it makes sense for those who believe in regular sun exposure to know their vitamin D levels and to be able to tell your friends, family and community what your level is,\u201d Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. \u201cMy last vitamin D blood test showed my vitamin D level is 46 ng\/ml. It\u2019s been as high as 52 ng\/ml before.\u201d<\/p>\n
The BU study \u2014 published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition \u2014 showed that sunbed users on average have vitamin D levels between 40-50 ng\/ml. The general population, on average, is in the mid-20s.<\/p>\n
Another study from the University of Alberta last year showed that sunbed users, as a group, have the highest vitamin D levels in Canada. That\u2019s because full-body UV exposure, in non-burning dosages, can make up to 10,000 – 20,000 IU of vitamin D naturally in the skin \u2014 100-200 times more than is fortified into an 8-ounce glass of whole milk.<\/p>\n
Who has the lowest vitamin D levels?<\/p>\n
An Australian study published in the British Journal of Dermatology showed that dermatologists at the end of summer \u2014 when their vitamin D levels should be their highest \u2014 had levels less than 14 ng\/ml on average. That\u2019s deficient by anyone\u2019s definition and is borderline for severe deficiency.<\/p>\n