Essay Sample on Vitamin D and Skin Color

Introduction

Vitamin D is an important nutrient. It is most significant in kids as it is required for the growth of strong teeth and bones. While other forms of nutrients are obtained from food, vitamin D is obtained naturally from the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Evolutionary studies reveal that light skin pigmentation arose as a way of helping humans take in vitamin D from the sun. Lighter skins have the tendency of taking reasonable amounts of the nutrient compared to dark skins (Vitamin D Council, 2014). The light skins are however disadvantaged in that there is a concentration of large amounts of UV light which is detrimental to the skin. There is the belief that the lighter skin can be able to hold more volumes of Vitamin D as compared to their counterparts. The purpose of the study is, therefore, to determine whether truly the light skin is associated with higher concentrations of vitamin D. Consequently, the study is meant to check the influence of skin color to the behavior of the skin on exposure to sunlight. These behaviors towards sunlight must have some effect on vitamin D levels.

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The study adopts a population-based method of collecting data. A 10% sample of invited participants whose children were born within the six months of the survey are invited. Amazingly, the children are not handled together. They are further subdivided into groups depending on their ages. Four months, six months and twelve months are the three categories employed. Additionally, the children have to attend the respective survey clinic at intervals of six months until they turn 61 years. Though this period, the researchers have to carry out the various tests in line with the research. Of much interest is the arm and that is what is primarily used to find the relationship between skin characteristics and exposure to vitamin D. Consequently, parents are educated on what are freckles, and they are given the task to mark them. It is the duty of the doctor to determine the numbers and levels of freckles at 49 and 61 months. All the information collected here together with information from the questionnaires that parents took home are coded to avoid losing the information. On the other hand, serum samples are collected to determine the vitamin D levels in the blood, and the same case applies to the pigmentation of genetic scores. Later on, the data is analyzed appropriately.

The obtained results are fascinating. Basing on the study population, it is evident that European populations with fairer skins which in this case is the light skin have higher levels of vitamin D in their blood (Bonilla et al., 2014). The pigmentation scores were directly proportional to the vitamin D levels. Interestingly, elements of gender had no effect on the levels of vitamin D in the body. However, the presence of tans in some while others lacked means that different children contained different levels of the vitamin. The existence of tans can however not be relied on since it is dependent on the literacy levels of the mother. Educated women have better ways of preventing their children from excess UV radiations. All in all, the research puts it clear that the lighter the skin, the higher the levels of 25(OH)D.

Conclusion

The hypothesis on the vitamin D levels in light skins is true. First, the researchers have employed all the aspects of reasonable research including the incorporation of a large sample size, the sampling technique as well as margins of error. This makes the research appear complete and profession. Secondly, the hypothesis can be supported by the fact that reduced melanin in the skin results in attraction of more radiations. The whites have discovered that they are vulnerable to the radiations and thus they have come up with preventive measures to ensure that the rays do not hurt them. There, however, appears to be some doubt on the validity of the vitamin D. why does it appear that the Light skinned are more likely to fracture their bones yet they should be having the strongest? This is, however, a single objection, and the fact remains that light skinned I have individuals have higher concentrations of vitamin D.

References

Bonilla, C., Ness, A. R., Wills, A. K., Lawlor, D. A., Lewis, S. J., & Smith, G. D. (2014). Skin pigmentation, sun exposure and vitamin D levels in children of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Retrieved from https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-597

Vitamin D Council. (2014). How do I get the vitamin D my body needs? Retrieved from https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/how-do-i-get-the-vitamin-d-my-body-needs/