A study which examined the vitamin D levels of people from Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania has found that Vitamin D insufficiency is common over a wide latitude range in Australia.

A study which examined the vitamin D levels of people from Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania has found that Vitamin D insufficiency is common over a wide latitude range in Australia.

The findings were announced today at the launch of Research Australia's 'Thank You Day' in Tasmania.

Researcher Dr Ingrid van der Mei says that most of the vitamin D that we need is produced by our body when we spend time in the sun.

"Inadequate sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake can result in vitamin D insufficiency.

"We examined three communities at different latitudes and found that even in typically sunny Queensland, during winter and spring around 40% of the population has insufficient levels of vitamin D," said Dr van der Mei.

"Irrespective of location across Australia, vitamin D insufficiency was common in winter and spring. In Tasmania, vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency seems to be common for a large part of the year.

"Adequate levels of vitamin D are essential to bone health, and vitamin D insufficiency has also been linked to diseases such as cancer, MS and diabetes.

"Current sun exposure guidelines do not seem to fully prevent vitamin D insufficiency, and we have concluded that consideration should be given to their modification or to pursuing other means to achieve adequate levels of vitamin D," she said.

The study team from the Menzies Research Institute and University of Queensland was recently awarded a prestigious $1,116,700 grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to examine the issue of healthy Vitamin D levels in further detail, and make recommendations to guide people in gaining an optimal amount of sun exposure for their health.

Dean of the Faculty of Health Science, Professor Allan Carmichael, says that good research is only possible through the support of the community.

"We are very fortunate in Tasmania to be able to collaborate with excellent researchers both locally and internationally, and we also receive tremendous support and input from study participants, their families and the wider community," Prof Carmichael said.

The research was announced today at a morning tea to celebrate Research Australia's 'Thank You' Day, hosted by the University of Tasmania's Faculty of Health Science and the Menzies Research Institute. Tasmanian researchers, volunteers, study participants and supporters gathered to be thanked and in turn show appreciation for the amazing achievements of our health and medical researchers.

All Australians are encouraged to get involved in 'Thank You' Day by sending a personal message of thanks to researchers on the website (www.thankyouday.org) or SMS a message to 0428 THANKS (0428 842657). The national series of events will conclude with the 'Thank You' Day Awards Dinner in Melbourne on 19 November.

The Tasmanian component of the Vitamin D study has been funded by grants from the NHMRC, the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, and MS Australia.

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