Sun-D

Regular sunscreen application reduces the risk of skin cancer, but it may also reduce vitamin D production. The Sun-D Trial is the first large trial to investigate the effect of applying SPF 50+ sunscreen on Vitamin D.

Skin Cancer, Vitamin D Deficiency

Study description/purpose

Regular sunscreen application reduces the risk of skin cancer, but it may also reduce vitamin D production. In theory, wearing sunscreen could cause vitamin D deficiency.

Studies suggest that putting on low SPF sunscreen does not cause vitamin D deficiency, but we do not know if regularly applying SPF 50+ sunscreen affects vitamin D.

The Sun-D Trial is the first large trial to investigate the effect of applying SPF 50+ sunscreen on Vitamin D.

What’s involved

Half of the participants in the Sun-D trial (decided randomly) will be given sunscreen to apply every day for most of one year. The other half will continue with their usual sun protection behaviour.

All participants will have to:

Complete short online surveys each month for one year; AND
Provide a blood sample so we can measure vitamin D (just like having a regular blood test) 3 times in the year.

Disease or condition

Vitamin D Deficiency / Skin Cancer

Recruitment criteria

This study is open to participants who:

Are aged between 18 and 70 years;
Live in one of the four eastern states of Australia (QLD, NSW, VIC & TAS);
Have fair or olive skin;
Do not usually wear sunscreen regularly (You can take part if you are using a low SPF moisturiser or makeup on your face);
Are not taking more than 400 IU of vitamin D in supplements each day.

Benefits

To say thank you for your time, participants will:

receive a $25 e-voucher for each of the three blood samples returned – $75 in total if all three samples are returned.
find out how their Vitamin D levels change across a whole year. At the end of the Sun-D Trial, researchers will inform participants of their Vitamin D results.

Half of the Sun-D participants will receive free sunscreen for a year.

Study sponsor / funder

Research team contacts

Sun-D Research Team

[email protected]

1300 735 920

Join Us Register

For Participants

For Researchers

Resources

An initiative of

The Join Us Register would like to Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia as the continuing custodians of Country and acknowledge the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this land.

We pay our respect to our First Nations peoples and their Elders, past, present, and emerging new leaders.

We acknowledge and celebrate the knowledge and the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and recognise their continuing connection to land and waters.

We thank the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and the many individuals, organisations that have supported and guided us through our journey.

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