Affecting change of UK public health policy on vitamin D, sun exposure, skin cancer and vitamin D supplementation 2013-20

Impact: Society and culture, Health and wellbeing, Economic, Policy

Narrative

Research which established and mapped safe levels of sun exposure while meeting vitamin D requirements for different skin types has led to new public health advice and guidance from a range of UK public health, medical professional and charitable bodies. This includes a recommendation from Public Health England that everyone take a vitamin D supplement in
autumn/winter or all year round in particular cases (given sun exposure and skin pigmentation). Making use of the team’s UK ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and vitamin D availability map, Boots Plc undertook a UK-wide press campaign promoting vitamin D supplementation and other bone health products with a [text removed for publication]
increase in like-for-like sales of vitamin D, showing a shift in public behaviour re vitamin D supplementation.
Impact date1 Aug 2013 → 31 Jul 2020
Category of impactSociety and culture, Health and wellbeing, Economic, Policy
Impact levelAdoption

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Lydia Becker Institute
  • Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing
  • Manchester Environmental Research Institute

Documents & Links

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