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Vitamin D research can vary geographically, as vitamin D status is influenced by latitude, season, dietary intake, body mass index, ethnicity, and public health initiatives. Over the last two decades, research on vitamin D has increased in Australia, where the potential for sun exposure (a major source of vitamin D) is high. We aimed to identify key topics and gaps in vitamin D research in Australia using a data-driven approach.
The dramatic increase in the prevalence of allergic disease in recent decades reflects environmental and behavioural changes that have altered patterns of early immune development. The very early onset of allergic diseases points to the specific vulnerability of the developing immune system to environmental changes and the development of primary intervention strategies is crucial to address this unparalleled burden.
We developed the iOS smartphone app Sun Safe to support healthy sun practices in young teenagers (aged 12-13 years). The production involved co-design with young co-researchers (ie, aged 12-13 years) with a health message of using sun protection when the UV index is ≥3. Important features include real-time and location-specific weather data on the UV index and gamified educational content.
Felix was one of 195 children to take part in Dr Debbie Palmer’s research into sunlight exposure, vitamin D and eczema.
For decades Aussies have been told to minimise sun exposure to prevent skin cancer - now researchers at Telethon Kids are challenging that message.
The Kids researcher Dr Shelley Gorman has received a Healthway grant to develop an online tool to promote safe sun behaviours to teenagers.
Researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia are continuing to hone in on the effects of ultraviolet radiation and vitamin D on the immune system.
The D-Light program, set up in 2014, aims to shed light on the amount of sun exposure that will promote good health in children and adolescents.
Ultraviolet radiation is the leading preventable cause of skin cancer, and early-life exposure increases long-term risk. Despite this, guidelines on sun protection for children and young people are inconsistent.
Little is known about how sun exposure may affect the maternal skin barrier during pregnancy when many hormonal and physiological changes occur. In this longitudinal observational study, 50 pregnant women were recruited at 18-24 weeks' gestation, 25 in summer-autumn, and 25 in winter-spring. At three time points in pregnancy at 18-24, 28-30, and 36-38 weeks' gestation, participants completed a validated sun exposure questionnaire and had skin permeability and surface pH measured on the volar forearm.