EARLIER this year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the most accurate estimate of vitamin D levels in the Australian population, which showed that nearly one in four Australians are deficient in vitamin D. However, this figure rises significantly over winter – for example, during a Canberran winter, half of all ACT residents are deficient.

Professor Robyn Lucas at the Australian National University is leading a study to untangle some of the mystery surrounding vitamin D.

The Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Supplementation Study (SEDS Study) aims to better understand the relationship between vitamin D, sun exposure and good health. “We hope to answer two important questions in particular” says Lucas. “ One – are there non-vitamin D benefits of sun exposure? And two – is it possible to increase your vitamin D through safe sun exposure?”

The study is recruiting men and women from all around Australia who have had a recent vitamin D test and are between 18 and 64 years old. Anyone who is interested in participating in the study is encouraged to go to http://www.sedsstudy.org/interested.html or email info@sedsstudy.org or phone 1800 73 2223.